Schools

How To Get Your Kids Back On The School-Sleeping Schedule

Tips to get your kids ready for 'early to bed and early to rise'!

 

 

Ah, summer time.

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Stay up late! It's light out and there's no better time to enjoy the summer than those cooler evenings. And when it gets dark, star gaze or have a sleepover.

Why not? You can sleep in the next morning, right?

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And then school starts, and everyone is off schedule and off kilter and CRANKY.

Here's some advice from some experts on getting your kids back in the school routine:

Gradually reintroduce earlier bedtimes: Work towards getting your pre-teen to bed by 8:30. That gives them 30 minutes to fall asleep and 10 hours to sleep by the time they have to get up at 7:00 a.m. If they need to get up earlier, they should go to bed earlier as well. For teens, aim for a 9:00 p.m. bedtime—which means no more late-night TV watching.
Besthealthmag.ca

Look Beyond Bedtime: “If we approach sleep appropriately," Family psychologist David Swanson, author of HELP-- My Kid is Driving Me Crazy,  says, "we look at a kid’s whole day. If you want your kids back to sleep on time, have dinner at a set time and limit the computer, TV, and video game time,” he says. “You’re not just trying to get them back to bed, but into a routine.”
webMD.com

Turn off electronics: To help your kids wind down, all electronics — TV, video games, computers, and cell phones — should be shut off an hour earlier. 
-everydayhealth.com

Be a role model: Set a good example for your child. Establish your own regular sleep cycle and maintain a home that promotes healthy sleep.
-sleepfoundation.org

Need more back-to-school tips, including ideas about healthy lunches and required immunizations? Check our special Back to School Page. 


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