help me get 4yr old to bed earlier

[kbaby]

DD used to be in bed by 7.45 and asleep by 8.15 after a story and cuddle but somehow weve let her bedtime get later and later and need to get it back on track.

What happens now is that, we put her to bed at 8pm after a story, she comes down stairs once or twice looking for drinks,wee etc and then we can hear her in her bedroom turning her light on, reading books, singing playing etc. She does go to sleep on her own when she is ready but that can be anytime from 9.15pm to 10pm it means that she is shattered in the morning and I have to wake her at 8am.

How can I get her to sleep earlier, bearing in mind that even with no lights on in her room she lays in bed singing until 10pm.

[Collision]

My boys are 6 and 3 and this is what we do.

Tea at 5.30pm

TV 6-6.45pm

Bath til 7pm

Stories til 7.30pm

Story CD on and both asleep by 7.45 at the latest. I could do the routine even earlier but they both love 64 Zoo Lane so we let them watch it.

[bythepowerofgreyskull]

I would personally have a long bath with her starting at 7pm, no pressure for bed.
Come downstairs after the bath for milk and a story
upstairs for one more story
leave her, in bed by 7.45
rapid return to bed.
Does she still have a daytime rest/nap?

[kbaby]

No she dropped her naps at 18 months old, she does have a period during the day where she will watch tv and chill out a bit. It seems to have got worse since DS got older and more able to play with her because now there seems no wind down time as they both run about like looneys.

So with the rapid return, do I jsut put her straight back to bed with no talking? what if she doesnt actually get out of bed but lays there playing in the dark. How do I deal with that?

[savoycabbage]

My dd sings away in bed too!

I would get her up at 7am to get her extra tired....