Ah, Summer…lazy mornings spent on the terrace with coffee, time to read the news before the kids wake up, and then—BANG! Summer gives way to fall, the weather starts to turn and the infamous school bells ring. If you have a child who wakes up eager to start the day, lucky you. Now, raise your hand if getting kids out of bed in the morning is a challenge for you. We’re right there with you.
We know our kids need a schedule and enough sleep to be ready to face the day and, in today’s tech-driven world, getting them to turn off the electronics and climb into bed is a constant battle. Dr. Carol Rosen, medical director for Pediatric Sleep Services at Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital in Cleveland, advises: “The pattern kids sleep best at is if they have a regular time that’s the right time, and they make the transition from wake to sleep in an environment that’s not overly stimulating.” If you’re still fighting the morning battle three weeks after the start of school, we feel you. So here are a few solutions to help make your kid a morning person, so that getting kids out of bed each day becomes a pleasure instead of a burden.
1. Get Enough Sleep
The National Sleep Foundation recommends that kids aged 5-12 get 10-11 hours of sleep a night. Between sports, homework and family time most kids don’t get enough. Studies show that lack of sleep results in sluggishness, lack of concentration and even increases kids’ risk for injuries.
Read Related: Wake & Partake! 10 Surprising Ways to Become a Morning Person
