My niece is driving her mum nuts!!!

[puddicat]

My niece is 9 nearly 10, and has always been a buggar to get up for school, it doesnt matter what time she goes to bed,, my sister likes her to be in bed by 9 through the week, she can be a bit difficult to get to bed the usual with kids think she is missing out on something, anyway anyone have any ideas how my sister could solve this dilemma, she is like a bear with a sore head when she has to get up!!!!!

[zzxxee]

for every time she goes to bed on time reward her with a sticker on a chart if she gets seven stickers at the end of the week get her a treat.... no sugary foods or drinks before bedtime and compleate wind down time an hour before a bath and a milky drink no telly or computor.... could also take her shopping to pick her own alarm clock

[annie0000]

Solved that one with my son - usually I get on with the housework when the kids go to bed - he wanted to stay up, so I got him working - next night he was happy to go to bed rather than housework! He realised that he wasn't missing anything that he was interested in. It's worth a try.

[puddicat]

Thanks guys keep them coming,the alarm clock sounds great, sadly niece has a brother dont think putting off the telly would work, on school nights dont think its to bad getting her to bed, its getting her up arrrgh!!!

[newtron]

Well, my approach might seem a little harsh, but when it comes to parenting, I don't like to play games. If I tell my kids to do something, they need to do it period! My children are 2 and 4, and I hope we have the getting up thing figured out well before they turn 10, but we'll see.

Early in the morning, well before she has to be up, I would begin to try to wake her by waring her that I will ask her nicely to get up and get ready 3 times, and if she is still in bed after the third time, I will literally pick her up, give her a shower, put on her clothes, and brush her teeth just like I used to do when she was 2 yrs old. I would follow through this threat, and I bet you you will not have to force her to get up more than 2 or 3 times. If she knows that you will follow through with your threat, she will get up on her own.

[sara3]

I think 9pm is late for a 9 year old. my 11 year old goes to bed at 9pm on school nights, and he still looks shattered and needs waking at 7.15am!

[newtron]

I asked my wife what she would do in this situation, and she agreed with giving three warnings, but instead of forcing the child to get up, she said would pour water on her head. LOL. Harsh but effective!

[puddicat]

sara i agree but she isnt my child, i have seen her go earlier but in the summer months its difficult, like the warning thing though, not the water though lol!!!