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Behaviour/development

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How do you deal with a 4 year old who just WILL NOT get out of bed?

8 replies

LBA · 07/04/2008 17:29

(Dont be smart and say put her to bed earlier ).

Every morning is a rush because dd refuses to get up. She goes to bed at 8pm but often wont sleep straight away no matter how hard I try. Its about 60% of the time. The rest of the time, she goes off ok but its always the same every morning (bar one when she knew nan was looking after her for the day). I tried putting her to bed at 7pm for a while which made no difference whatsoever.

Every morning I get to work in a foul mood, my ears ringing from dd's screaming tantrums and our lift grumbling (quite rightly) that im making her late for work too, and my face burning from ds's deputy head glaring at me for bringing him into reception because the other doors have been locked. (He's rarely more that a minute late and the kids are still going in but that's not the point, I know its unacceptable). Im getting it from all directions.

Dd's general behaviour at the moment is just not on. She's always been difficult but is having another one of her naughty phases. Any ideas would be most appreciated.

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
BoysAreLikeDogs · 07/04/2008 17:30

Does she go to school/preschool/nursery?

LBA · 07/04/2008 18:03

Private nursery.

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HuwEdwards · 07/04/2008 18:05

My DD is like this - have to peel her off the bed every morning. I get up with enough time to give her a wake up cuddle - takes about 5mins to bring her round. Once this is done, she's fine - dresses herself etc.

CarGirl · 07/04/2008 18:07

Make the consequence fit the behaviour if you can. Did she object going to bed earlier? If she did then I would like morning behaviour to bed/story time. In all honestly she actually be feeling tired and grumpy herself in the mornings because she isn't sleeping well.

I don't know if it will work with a 4 year old but it worked very well on my 6 year old

theITgirl · 07/04/2008 18:08

Wake her up even earlier.

Sorry, I don't want to sound unhelpful, but my dd is the same (4 next week). The only thing that works is build in more getting up time.

Also (same as HuwEdwards). I pick her up, out of bed and cuddle till she wakes up properly, through the kicking and screaming.

HuwEdwards · 07/04/2008 18:18

the cuddling sounds awfully pandering (and believe it or not, it's usually togh love in our house) but infinitely preferable to a screaming row every morning. She's 5 now and as long as she gets that cuddle we never have the tears any more.

blueshoes · 07/04/2008 18:42

LBA, don't I know.

I get up early, get dressed. In the midst of it, I go to dd's room, shake her about "wake up", grunt, put on my make up, then go back to her room, shake her again, put on my clothes, shake her some more.

After 10 minutes, I go in for the kill. I tell dd she needs to do a wee. Usually the mere suggestion will make her realise her bladder is full. It softens the ground. Then I remind her of the nice things happening at school thay day eg Show & Tell or Mufti day where she gets to choose her clothes. Other things include reminding her of her best friend or Fish & chip day. Then I say she HAS to wake up or she will be late.

Finally I bundle her to the bathroom and plonk her on the toilet. Whinge, struggle, lots of eye rubbing, curling up.

The dye is set ...

Also give time for not getting into clothes. If you dd is particularly difficult, dress her in comfy nursery clothes to go to bed with, so this is not an issue.

LBA · 07/04/2008 20:16

Thanks for replies. Wasn't there once an mner who would dress her child before bed? Ive got to say its sounds mad but I can understand!

Here's hoping tomorrow is a good day but im not holding my breath!

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