[TweetyMom04]

The Boys are in Kindergarten from 9a – 3:15p.

M – Th & Su the sleep routine is lights out by 7:30p. Next morning they are up between 6 – 6:30a. By the afternoon 3:30p, they have all the signs for needing a nap. They will go down on their own and a 45’er (45 mins.) later they are refreshed. Some days we muddle through and by dinner time (5pm) they are not fun to be around at all. By 6pm they’ve got their second wind and good to go until nighttime at 7:30p.

Thursday’s they have Karate and they sleep for about 10 – 15 mins on the way down. Then they are alert and refreshed for class, drive home, dinner, showers and bedtime. Friday Mornings we’ve noticed that they are sleeping in until 6:30a – 6:45a.

F & Sa they are allowed to stay up an additional hour, so lights out by 8:30p. Next morning they are up between 5:30a – 6:30a. Same thing happens, by afternoon, they are in desperate need of a nap.

Each afternoon of getting through homework is a challenge. One will always fall asleep, before I'm through supporting the other one.

If they finish their homework, some afternoons they want to ride their bikes, kick their footballs around, etc.

They are up 14+ hrs a day, barely able to get through.

The Schools are not A/C and it reaches close to 105 – 110 before they are out of school for the Summer. We don’t have the humidity, but heat itself can zap the energy from anyone at any age. I’ve encouraged them to drink water throughout the day (and they have access to do so). So I know the sleepiness is not coming from dehydration.

We’ve tried keeping them up later, they get up earlier.
We put them to bed at regular time, they get up early.

I know their bodies are probably going through changes for sleeping needs, etc. I remember getting up early when I was 6 – 8 yrs of age, (at 7a - 8a before the rest of the household) Then by age 12+, I was sleeping until 8-9a and even later as I got older. Could this be something similar?

Any suggestions?

[MichiAmy]

Hi Sharon,

I don't have any direct experience with this - so take this with a grain of salt. I have a close friend and cousin who both have 3 kids. The eldest from the friend and the middle of the cousin are within a month of each other. It's like a case study in raising kids - as they are almost EXACTLY opposite.

The friend has a strict schedule, very structured and routine. Her kids have a regular bed time, waking time and nap times. The cousin -- no schedule what so ever. In fact the youngest two (6 & 2.5) are typically up later than me -- and I am usually up until 11pm or so!

The friends kids still have their crankiness - but it's definately showed me the benefits of the structure - which you have also. One thing that worked with her structured kids -- especially the oldest who LOVED to get out of bed early and wake everyone else up - is a timed night light. She has a nightlight in her room that is set by a timer to go on @ 8:00pm and off @ 7:00am. This may change a little during the school year to like 6:30am. She KNOWS not to get up for the day until the nightlight goes off.

Sounds really corny - but it works well for them. The friends' hubby is a police officer and their shifts are 12 hrs. He leaves really early and sometimes she'd hear dad up and want to get up -- waking everyone else up. This solved their problem -- and works like a charm for them. Maybe if the boys sleep a little later they'd not have the crash effect in the afternoon.

Amy

[angelkisses0102]

Sounds like they simply need more sleep. DD is almost 7 and still needs at least 11 hours of sleep per night...and on weekends she gets even more. She is going into second grade so obviously can not nap but we do 'rest' times where she just hangs out on her bed and watches TV or listens to music or reads.

DS is almost 5 and needs at least 12 hours of sleep per day...he has SPD and I think this plays a role in his need for more sleep. He is so busy during the day his body needs to recharge. In fact a few times a month he will go to bed at 4 or 4:30pm and sleep right through until 8 or 9am the next morning. Or he will sleep until 10 or 11am on the weekends.

Because they have to get up so early, maybe they need an earlier bed time or a longer nap time.

And I have to ask, why on earth do they have homework at this age? They are 5...geez.

Good luck...

[heikewould]

I agree with Michiamy, I have a friend who has the "nightlight" alarm clock in their kids bedroom and it works. They know that when the nightlight goes off in the morning it's time to come out of their room. While they wait they can play queitly in their room. Even queit play can help with reserving energy!

[kretzklan]

Do they have separate rooms? I just ask because I've always noticed that friends who have kids sharing a room at this age (and up) have many more problems with sleeping. They seem to get each other up and play off that ability.

Anyway, I just read an article that said 3-5 year olds need 12 hours of sleep a night. 6-8 need 11 hours, and 9-13 need 10 hours. It seems like a lot, but I would think the studies are right.

As for keeping them in bed longer (especially on weekends). My friend had an early riser and she put a digital clock in his room and covered the minutes. Then she told him he could not get up until the Hour side said "8". It worked like a charm...she said he would often fall back asleep waiting for it to change and then would sleep until 8:30 or even 9:00.

Good luck!

[votemom]

i'm curious, too, about the room situation.

as sad as i am to have my daughter move out of state in august, i can't WAIT to have her bedroom so i can separate our two toddlers. they have different sleep needs and they totally disrupt each other.

[Max'sMommy]

We see this this with our 4.5 and 18 month old they both need that long sleep. 4.5 year old sleeps very well 10 hours plus 1 - 2 hour nap. The 18 month old is a trooper 3 weeks home and sleeps 12 hours plus a 3-4 hour afternoon nap. Neither wake up through out the night. We have always been told when they sleep they grow. These naps help make them much happier campers in the evening. We even tell the 4.5 just go in your room and read a book he tends to always fall asleep. The whole yoga mantra "relax and you will fall alseep" ! We do not have any extra activities at night because if the "routine" for the 4.5 changes it is not a pleasure for us!

[Jpride]

This may have nothing to do with anything, but I have found with our son, who goes to bed at 8:00, needs an extra trip to the bathroom around 10:00. (He does not really even wake up so it does not disrupt him at all). We started this a couple weeks ago and he has been consistently sleeping an extra 45 minutes every day. He was getting up at 6:30 or earlier before that, and now it is 7:00 or after.

Hope you find something that works for you.

[TweetyMom04]

MichiAmy - I LOVE the idea of the nightlight w/timer. Any idea where I can get one of these, maybe Amazon? Who mfgs it?

angelkisses0102 - To answer about homework. The system here (we are US Ex-Pats living overseas) is very rigid. The children are expected and will be writing their name by First Grade. Myself included, think this is 'to rigid' to much to put on a child at this young age. Homework now consists of reading, phonics, numbers/counting. Takes about 20 - 30 mins. A bit longer for DS-L (due to past hearing problems. He is still catching up on communication and re-learning sounds and words and has Speech Therapy.)

kretzklan & votemom - no they are not in separate bedrooms. That is something that will change in December as we are working on a new house. Right now, we don't have the room to move anyone, except downstairs on the sofa.

Thanks for the suggestions!

[MichiAmy]

For the timed nightlight - I actually think it wasn't really a nightlight with a timer or more one of those electric timers that you can plug Christmas/holiday lights or a lamp into and program the on/off. My mom uses them for her lights in her living room as well...

I found a bunch on Amazon - here is one example:
Amazon.com: Intermatic TN111GC Lamp and Appliance Timer with 2 On/Off Settings, Easy Set Lighted Dial.: Home Improvement

Easier if you have on that has the plug to plug in the light on the front...

Hope it helps! Good luck!

[GCS]

My boy (6 and a half) needs more sleep too. He plays hard and needs his rest. I still try and nap him if I can - he will usually fall asleep in the car around 3:30-4 if I "happen" to be driving around at that time. If our schedule permits I try and get him to fall asleep for a half hour. Makes the world of difference for him!