Ideas re. early waking 5.5yo needed

[lindenlass]

Gah! Am up again with 5.5yo who wakes very early every day because she likes sitting on the sofa playing on my laptop (watching cbeebies on iplayer mostly!) while DH gets ready for work.

However, he doesn't go to work every day, obviously, but she wakes very early every day - like 6am!

We home educate so have no need to be awake this early and all the other children will sleep quite happily until 7, 7.30 and sometimes, if we're lucky 8am!

Does anyone else let their 5.5yo (she's v. v. v. sensible, reliable and trustworthy) go downstairs to use the computer without supervision? I would in the daytime, but of course I'd be asleep (hopefully!) if we let her on DH's days off.

If not, could anyone else offer some other ideas? She's a fluent reader but for some reason doesn't like the idea of going and reading in her room (oh yes, forgot to mention, she has also usually joined us in our bed by this time!).

I have no experience as mine is younger so forgive me if this is a totally crap idea but could you just say "no laptop use until after 9am"? I'm guessing it would take a few days but stick to it and make it boring low key attention only until a reasonable hour? At the moment she is getting exactly what she wants by getting up at that hour!

However, is she suffering for lack of sleep? If not, maybe she needs less and a later bed time?

She can't get back to sleep. She gets plenty - just what's right for her. If she had a later bedtime, then DH and I would never get any time together!

She's quite happy lying in bed in the mornings but fidgets, understandably, which keeps us awake!

She gets upset if we insist she go and do something completely on her own - she has three younger sisters so isn't really used to being alone (of course she does do stuff alone during the day, but it's through choice rather than necessity IYSWIM). Iplayer/the computer kind of negates that a bit.

Thanks for your ideas though!

ps. Laptop use early in the morning is quite handy actually so not really wanting to enforce a rule banning it

If she's getting enough sleep I can't say I blame her. Must be annoying though. Howabout putting an audio book on for her in her room. She could snuggle up in bed and listen. You'd only have to get out of bed to switch it on, then you could get back into yours. Or you could put it onto an ipod, get her some won't-fall-off headphones and keep her in bed with you.

Ooh, the ipod idea is good! I don't blame her at all for it! And don't blame her for not wanting to be on her own. But I need more sleep (seriously)

Definitely worth getting some over the head headphones though. My son drives me mad with the ear only ones, as they keep falling out. Hope it works .

I'd use a bunny alarm clock (and do with DS 4) and tell them they are not allowed to come in until that wakes up. They can play in their room, read etc until that time.

Would reward for compliance with this request, and remove laptop time etc for not doing this.

This does seem to work with my early riser - but he wakes around 6am, and he is allowed up at about 6.30-6.45am ( so not too long to wait). Actually he tends to stay in bed until "rabbit" wakes up now.