Get Your Kids Back into a School Sleep Routine with This Tip!
During the school holidays, it's perfectly normal for your kids to stay up later and enjoy those extra moments of sleep in the morning. After all, who doesn't love a good lie-in? However, this shift in their routine can lead to disrupted sleep patterns when it's time to head back to school.
As the new term approaches, many parents understandably feel a bit anxious about how to ensure their children get enough restful sleep and wake up refreshed for school. But are you making this common mistake… putting them to bed too early?
While it might seem like a good idea to establish an early bedtime the night before school to ensure they get plenty of sleep, the reality is that their body clock has adapted to staying up later. Trying to force them to sleep too early often leads to tossing and turning, as their bodies simply aren't ready to sleep.
Think of it like an appetite - you want their bodies to be hungry for sleep when bedtime rolls around. To build this sleep appetite, try getting them up a bit earlier in the morning a few days before school starts. The earlier they rise, the more they'll naturally crave a good night's sleep.
Combine this with maintaining a slightly later bedtime than their usual school schedule, so you're not sending them to bed drastically earlier than they've been used to in the past few weeks.
This approach might seem counterintuitive, and they may be a bit tired initially, but after a couple of days, it will help build their sleep drive and get them back into a solid routine, ensuring they're fully prepared to return to their school schedule.
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Is your child’s disrupted sleep causing exhaustion and stress for the whole family?
Do you find it challenging to establish a bedtime routine and stay consistent with it?
Does your child wake up excessively early, leaving everyone tired for the day?
Do they wake frequently through the night?
Are they showing signs of irritability and difficulty concentrating throughout the day?
Are you concerned about their anxiety around sleep and bedtime?