What do kids do who get up at 5.30am?

[gerispringer]

Hi there grandparent here- am on childcare duty for week 1 of summer hols. 2 youngest GC 4 and 6 who get up anytime from5 am. I just wondered what do parents of early risers do with kids these days? I remember my DC reading books or one who did lots of drawings. These 2 seem to expect to watch TV first thing. I feel a bit guilty letting them watch too much TV but it means I can have an early morning cuppa in relative peace.

I think a lot of children in this country go to bed early. I have read a lot of threads asking why do the British put their children to bed so early?

Having parents who get enough sleep is a direct benefit to the child

However for the majority of people it makes absolutely no difference to wake up time if they put kids to bed earlier, surely if it was them being put to bed too early they would sleep later if put to bed later?

It’s because most people live a structured life where they work early in the morning and children need to be up, ready, fed and out of the house into childcare or school for the parent to work.
While it might feel early if my kids wake at 5:30 the reality is them sleeping to 7:30 wouldn’t work with our routine and we would all be late to nursery, school and work so really 5:30 is only like half an hour earlier than the ideal time anyway.

Mine just wouldn't actually sleep any longer which is fair enough because by 6am, they've had 11 hours sleep which is plenty. As they get older and bedtimes move later, I don't know if that will change their wake up time. I could go to bed at 2am and I'd still be wide awake at 6 unfortunately!

Thankfully we're happy to be up and about in the mornings and then chill when they're in bed so it works for us.

If we had grandparent support, I would be happy for them to do whatever worked for them. Grandparents are there to give extra TV time and treats surely. Sadly we don't have any help from extended family so not something I've had to consider!

Mine get up at 5. We do homework/holiday work, reading, colouring and limited tv (downloaded stuff from bbc iplayer on tablet).
I don’t get involved, they have their stuff in their rooms (they are older now, but that was the routine). Allowed properly up from 6.

At those ages I wouldn't expect to be woken up. We lay out breakfast cereal and bowls downstairs ready, they can put the TV on in the kitchen and make themselves breakfast. My 2 (similar ages) know not to wake us up before 6:30.

If you don't want them watching the TV hide the remotes

Go back to fucking bed if they know what's good for them! 😂

They know how to get themselves a drink and some cereal if they're hungry and to read a book or watch TV quietly until I get up at 8am.

Absolutely no arguing or screaming allowed.

I’m really looking forward to those days! DD is 3.5 and I thought we were 2.5 years away at least so pleased to hear it might be sooner than that

With my own DC at those ages (no additional needs) it’d be stay in their rooms and be quiet until I got up.

If on grand-parent duty in sole charge for a week I’d ask what they usually do at that hour. If TV I’d just do that and quietly judge my DC’s parenting! also use screens / TV as often as needed to make the time easier for you!

maybe they're going to bed too early!

I’m surprised so many people state they would just leave a 4 year old unattended around the house for over 2.5 hours while they slept.

If I put my son to bed at 7pm, he's up ay 6am.

If I put him to bed at 9pm, he's up at 6am.

If I put him to bed at 11pm, he's up at 6am.

Why on earth would I keep him up later?

I probably did the same, but most likely because in the 1980s I was worried about getting a massive sodding wallop from my parents.

Stay in their rooms playing or reading quietly til a more civilised hour? I don't think they should be allowed screen time as that just incentivises them to get up very early.

My one strict parenting rule has always been everyone stays physically in bed until at least 6.30am and I never get out of bed before 7am.

Why are they up so early? Are they being put to bed too early?

When the clocks change, is he up at 5am for half the year? Or does he adjust back to 6?

If he adjusts back to 6, then yes you could consistently put him to bed an hour later and he would adjust to 7.

Makes no difference. I was SO hopeful because generally he wakes at 5.30am, so when the clocks went forward I was thinking it might make a difference? But nope, it's still the same. He's my youngest, my eldest are now adults so I know it will all change....

Mine was exactly the same @incognitomouse . After the clocks changed you’d have maybe a week of slightly later wake ups but then reverted back.

He is four now and wakes at between 6-7 which is so much better!

Absolutely this. Make sure there is a clock in there that the 6 year old can read, and tell them they’re not to come out and start the day/ disturb you until 7am. Using the toilet excepted of course!

Make sure bedtime isn’t too early, otherwise the above is not fair on them.

Send them back to bed, you’re the adult.

I’ve bought one of those sleep clocks for mine - she can’t get up until it goes green. She’s 5 now and has had it since she was 3, and has been really good with it actually. On the rare occasion she ignores it though I have absolutely no issue with putting the TV on for her while I have my much needed caffeine injection. If it became a habit though, I would change tactics for sure, I wouldn’t reward crazy early mornings with tv as a rule.

So 6 months of the year he wakes up at 4.30am?

Did you keep the rest of the routine an hour later though or did you switch it back to 'normal' time?

What is it you think a 4yo is gonna do? Watch loads of TV and make a mess playing with his toys, and eat their cereal. Worst mess I've come down to is some cereal on the kitchen table, easily cleaned up