Things for DS1 to do QUIETLY when he wakes early?

[fridayschild]

DS1 is just 4, has always been an early riser. At the moment he is waking up about 5am or so, sings to himself for about 30 minutes but then starts to get bored. He then shouts and makes a noise till he wakes his room-mate, DS2, and indeed everyone else in the house. This is his express aim - he says he wants to wake DS2 so he has someone to talk to. Then they play with varying degrees of niceness and noise till we can stand it no longer and go and see them.

DS2 is exhausted by the early rising and yesterday managed two naps. He is 2.5.

I am quite happy to get up at 6.30am but before that is a bit too soon for me as well. Things may improve when pre-school starts again on Thursday (please God), but just in case it doesn't, any suggestions?

Does he have toys in the bedroom? Can you leave some different ones out each night - a new puzzle etc? No idea really though x

Buy him some sticker books? Some nice crayons just for him and a colouring book?

You have my sympathies and I think at 4 yrs old you could probably tell hime NOT to wake his brother deliberately...

I'm afraid our solution is much more simplistic - and will probably be frowned on by MN'ers the site over - DS1 from the age of 3 used to take himself downstairs to watch TV, and now the DS's are 6 and 3 the same applies - we used to have to leave the TV on the 'right' channel - but now DS1 changes it himself if we forget.

We have said to DS1 if he keeps waking his brother in the morning they will have to sleep in different rooms. This is an awful threat (for him) and this time last year worked well enough to stop him getting into DS2's cot in the morning while DS2 was asleep. Not sure why being told not to wake his brother is not working now though.

Will try some "special" toys and see if that works.