my kids keep coming downstairs at bedtime

[mrsnoah]

with the most ridiculous excuses. They are 9 and 7 yrs. Driving me mad ! Any suggestions ?

I don't take any cr*p wrt bedtime I'm afraid. They go to bed and they don't come down again. Obviously they can go to the toilet and fill up their water bottles (maybe should have put those the other way round) and if they're ill that's Ok but otherwise, I get Very Cross.

Do you have a reward system/pocket money? We have the good oldPasta Jar inthe Dragon household - they earn bits for good behaviour and lose it for bad and exchange it at a rate of 10p per piece at the weekend.

You must not be fierce like me!! Mine stay put - they fear their Mothers wrath - well actually its just habit now!

Yes..... they get pocket money and it seems to get a bit chaotic as to how much they have had taken away..need an accountant to take note behind me as am fining said child.

Pasta jar is good idea. But they dont seem to really care about the money in the end or become so competitive they are demanding the money for the slightest good deed they do.. whining "awww thats not fair, she got it for doing xyz. "

At the moment am deducting 10 mins off every time they get up with sad excuse and come down. Ended up with 7 yr old going to bed at 6 pm the other night. Again they dont seem to care.

Have tried confiscating gameboy, tamagotchi etc.. not bovvered.

I do get very cross and fierce and they do a good job of looking remorseful then 12mins later... they're back.

Have 3 month old too so am desperate for them to be better behaved in eves.

Do you think I need to set up better reward /fine system ?

Hello otty !

let em come down onec
e sit at the tope of the stairs till they g o to sleep
take a mag

Enormous elastic band, under the mattress, over the child.

Peace till morning.

Have you done that Codmamma.. does it work with older kids ? I fear mine would just keep coming out to see me.

oh fgs you arent scarey enough

sout at them fircelt an tell them fo every time they come out they go to bed 5 mins earlier the next night

You need to sit down and tell them how it's going to be. There must be something they want or enjoy that you can take away from them.

LOL Hunker

do you want me to come round? That will be the end of it

lol @ oh fgs you arent scarey enough!
Sorry, but agree. Be a meanie for a couple of nights. Growl them back to bed with a v stern face and make sure there is a consequence.

move into a bungalow....?

Seriously Cod.. I am scary old witch. DH is terrified of me, and dog and cat, but oh not them !
What do you think is a reasonable bed time for them?
At moment its 7yrs...8pm and 9yrs 8.30pm. Thats ok isnt it ?

Yes otty ! Thatd scare 'em !

That sounds fine. I would concentrate on being really stern with the younger one. If s/he was settled and sleepy by the time the older one goes up things might be easier, no?

Concubine will try that. Thanks. Things have deteriorated since ds was born recently. Cant believe dd2 is still hopping around at 9pm. She seems to be waiting for older sis to come up. But you are right.