How can I get 7yr old to sleep at a reasonable hour?

[bizzi]

dd1 goes to bed at 7:30/8:00, light out by 8:15, 8:30 at latest, but she is invariably still awake at 9:30 sometimes 10! She's so tired and ratty during the day.
I don't give her cheese or chocolate near bedtime, but she does eat cereal for supper just before bed.
Any ideas that might help?

[jessicasmummy]

y neighbours 3 year old is like this. she goes to bed no worries but will still be awake at 11pm watching dvds or videos. her parents have tried everything to get her to go to sleep earlier but she just doesnt need the sleep. What does your child do once lights are out???

[Slinky]

Jessicasmummy

"...she goes to bed no worries but will still be awake at 11pm watching dvds or videos.."

There's the answer for your neighbour - get the videos/DVDS OUT of her room!! Of course she won't go to sleep if she's got stuff to "do".

[acer]

My ds1 who is nearly 7, has never slept untill about 10pm, he would come in the next morning all puffy eyed and cross and I always had to fight with him at bedtimes, then just before xmas I started bath and book routine (6.30 bath, followed by book and reading homework) lights out at 7.30pm along with pocket money on a Friday if he goes straight to sleep every night. I check him at about 8.30pm each night and he is sound asleep! I always give him lots of praise in the mornings too. I don't know how long it will last, but I think he has realised how much better he feels from getting some sleep. (The tantrums at bedtime have stopped too).

[starlover]

I don't have any suggestions... but I used to be exactly the same when I was little.
I just didn't need very much sleep. I would go up to bed, read for ages... then just stay awake.

[bizzi]

dvd's and videos!!
In bed she hums and sings, when it gets loud I call upstairs, 'be quiet' or 'go to sleep!' Her light is off, if I see she's been out of bed I shut her door (she likes it open-not scared of it closed though) so no landing light/ downstairs tv stimulation.
Acer, your routine sounds good, we have one of sorts but I have to admit it all seems so rushed. There aren't enough hours in the evening for after school activities, dinner, playing, homework, supper, bath and story, it's story that gets squeezed out, she reads to herself. I also have ds-10 and dd-4, so am wiped out. No excuse I know. I will get back to story reading, any other suggestions?

[Lonelymum]

My ds1 is aged 8 and goes to bed by 8 but I have noticed that lately he sometimes isn't asllep whenI go up at 9. He told me once he was a wake until 10! I am horrified by this and worry his concentration will suffer at school, but most of the time he seems OK, just occasionally it all catches up with him and he is bad tempered. He doesn't have a TV in his room but he does have a tape recorder and sometimes I think he puts on long story tapes. I make sure his gameboy is not around as he plays that forever. Does your dd have anything to do when she goes to bed which might be keeping her awake?

[bizzi]

She also plays with toys that she secrets away into her bed.
Starlover, that was me too, but she's so tired during the day.

[bizzi]

No games like you've mentioned, just soft toys and farm animals, last night it was a deodrant stick!

[acer]

I forgot to mention that my ds2 who is almost 5 has now started playing up at bedtimes!! Bribery doesn't seem to work with him!

[jessicasmummy]

neighbours have tried to take eveything away so she is litterally in bed, she has none of it. she is very advanced for her age - bless her, and is more like a mini adult that a child. she has no problems being awake all day at nursery and nursery say she is a happy contented little girl. i think its the parents wantign her in bed sy a set hour so they can have time together otherwise she would be downstairs with them til they went to bed! i dont necessarily agree with tv's in the bedroom but if this little one realyl doesnt need the sleep, then why should the parents try and force it?