Bed time antics

[mum23kidz]

As you can see, I'm having a bad parenting run lately... After some more advice...
My 6 and 9 year old are really playing up. They share a room, and having them in a different room isn't an option.
Basically, lights out at 8,45 on week nights. They are allowed to read quietly before that time. But, they never are quiet. They bang the wall, talk loudly, play with their toys which are stored under the bed. I have tried every thing from nagging to turning the lights out and removing all books etc, but every night, it's the same bloody deal.

Can you switch their stash of toys for something different that's dull? I'd try getting them to bed earlier so messing around doesn't eat into unwind and sleep time.

PS. Depending on whether they still fall for it this month at least you might hint no settling, no Santa.

Best approach I've found is the patient one - get yourself a book (or a laptop and MN) and a chair and plant yourself outside their door at lights out time - tell them you're doing it and they must be completely quiet. Then go "shssh" every time there's a noise, or walk in and whisper to the culprit to be quiet if necessary. I've taken groups of kids on residential trips and that's always worked in the end even with 8 boys in a room of around those ages.

It should get easier after a few nights once they get used to it, then you can listen from a bit more of a distance.