How do I get him to SLEEP?

[MrsSnape]

I posted a couple of days ago (or was it yesterday?) about DS's usual bedtime being 10pm and everyone was a bit outraged (he's 9).

Thing is, the reason he goes to bed at that time is because he doesn't sleep any earlier. If I put him to bed at 8pm he'd still be awake at 10:30pm messing around, making noises, singing etc...

So how do you get a reluctant 9 year old to sleep?

I've just got some photos back of him and his eyes are all red and puffy...he looks knackered on them

Could you just bring his bedtime forward by about 5 mins every night? Keep weekend bedtimes the same time as weekdays so his body does not get out of sync.

Don't let him do anything fun or interesting after 8pm e.g. watch tv, dvds, playstations, etc as this will keep his mind active.

Make sure he is getting loads of exercise during the day.

Stick at it, I guess it will take a while to change.

Good luck