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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

How long for a Year 7 to get used to new routine and not be so tired??

23 replies

CocktailQueen · 09/09/2015 11:24

DD started secondary last week. She has to get up at 6, leave house at 7, and has an hour's journey to school. She often has to stand on the bus. She's home by 4.15 but is so tired, bless her. When did your Year 7s get used to the routine??

OP posts:
patterkiller · 09/09/2015 11:30

I know one of mine really struggled for quite a while with a similar routine. She would catch up with naps at the weekend but I did try and still wake her at a reasonable time to keep a bit of routine, although not too early. DD2 was slightly luckier as another bus service was put in place when she started so didn't need to wake until 7.
To be honest I think DD1 struggled until the spring when the lighter mornings crept back in. Make sure she's asleep at a resemble time without devices. Bless her.

goldacre · 09/09/2015 12:19

DS has a longer day than yours - out the door at 7 and not back home until 5.45 (School finishes at 4.20 pm). I make sure that he goes to bed (lights out) by 9pm to cope with getting up at 6.15 am. Still looks exhausted a few days in though. We've stopped any after school activities for him during the week and have scheduled late morning ones for the weekend so he can have a lie-in. Secretly hoping that he won't make any school sports teams which would put an end to that.

antimatter · 09/09/2015 12:26

it was at least until after October half term for both my kids. Best to leave joining clubs till later as well.

Original poster
CocktailQueen · 09/09/2015 13:00

Thanks all. She's not joining clubs until after Christmas - she's being very sensible, and she's loving the school, bless her, but I want to help her as much as possible. Getting up in the light is SO much easier!!

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AugustRose · 09/09/2015 13:20

DD1 (now in Year 9) was very tired until after the half term. She came from a small village school and wasn't used to having to walk very far and carry her things with her all day. It was also a longer day and she actually started falling asleep at about 5.00pm when she previously couldn't sleep until 10.00pm.

Lurkedforever1 · 09/09/2015 14:02

Dd has never needed much sleep, is very energetic and from being tiny had an active routine, and she's always been on the go since, as a result I don't think she's finding the longer days physically tiring at all. Compared to her average weekend day, they're actually easier. However I do think that for all she loves everything about it, and is the type to cheerfully manage the organisation, new places etc it's mentally tiring her a fair bit. Usually she spends her after school time doing something active, since starting it's been perhaps an hour of physical activity and then doing more peaceful things. I'm guessing once everything isn't so new she'll be back to normal.

Lilaclily · 09/09/2015 14:05

I've got a year 7 and his school seems to be pushing them to try out loads of activities
Yesterday ds came home at 6.30
And he's just texted to say he's doing something tonight
He's also getting homework
He seems ok but he was asleep at 8.15pm last night , up at 6.45
I just hope he doesn't have a melt down at the weekend !

Elibean · 09/09/2015 16:05

Similar situation here, but no option on starting clubs after half term - they want at least one club to be started straight away. Hmm

Our problem is that overstimulated little brain won't switch off although in bed at 9....often doesn't sleep till 10.30. I really hope she adjusts!

AtiaoftheJulii · 09/09/2015 16:17

Probably January really. Half term did give some respite, but by the end of the term all my y7s were sleepwalking.

Leeds2 · 09/09/2015 16:19

I think starting secondary school is a huge shock to their systems!

Make sure she had everything possible to arrange the night before arranged (bag packed, any packed lunch ready in the fridge, uniform laid out etc) then maybe she could get up a little bit later. An hour between getting up and leaving the house seems like a long time to me.

Original poster
CocktailQueen · 09/09/2015 17:47

Thanks, all. Leeds - her choice. She doesn't like to be rushed. She likes to take her time over breakfast, then her hair...

We do get everything ready the night before.

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TheSecondOfHerName · 09/09/2015 19:56

DD has been told she has to join at least three clubs at school. She is getting home at 4.20ish even without after-school activities. She gets easily tired at the best of times, so this first half term is going to be interesting.

Original poster
CocktailQueen · 09/09/2015 20:05

What, Second? That seems a bit prescriptive. Not all dc will want to join clubs, esp. In the first term!

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tigerscameatnight · 09/09/2015 20:09

Until about January. Went from a school 3 doors down getting up at 8.15am to a 45 minute walk and up at 6am. We ended up cancelling all clubs and activities. She was completely zonked!

tigerscameatnight · 09/09/2015 20:10

Ours have to join a club to 'graduate' year nine . Not in first term though.

TheSecondOfHerName · 09/09/2015 20:12

She is happily joining four (choir, orchestra, art & ceramics) but I would prefer her to pace herself. Getting home at 5.30 seems OK now, but will be less fun in December.

BackforGood · 09/09/2015 20:14

All of mine settled by about the 3rd week of term/last week of September, but none of them got/get up at 6am! That seems extreme.
Most dc get tired towards the end of the Autumn Term though, as it's just toooooooooooo long. Always.

knittingwithnettles · 09/09/2015 20:18

Why does she need to get up at 6 to be out of the door at 7? I would be trying to encourage her to whittle down the exit time, half an hour is just about fine for dd who gets up at 6.30 and leaves at 7 for school, and also has an hour's bus journey (two buses) and waiting at busstops.

Also I started arranging to take her to school by car once a week, it was only 20 mins and then we were able to leave half an hour later. That helped. But all my dh was able to get the others off to school so I suppose that might not work for you.

It is hard. She has been fine though; we are now in Year 9. She used to sleep a little nap at 5pm sometimes.

knittingwithnettles · 09/09/2015 20:20

oh, and all clubs went, except one afterschool club for singing and even that was too much in the end.. She does a Sat club instead which works much better.

superram · 09/09/2015 20:20

I am a teacher and am on my knees this week due to getting back into it. Try to keep weekends quiet-she will get used to it.

MrsLindor · 09/09/2015 20:29

DD has just started year 7 this week, she needs a minimum of an hour between getting up and leaving the house, preferably a bit longer, she's not a morning person and needs time to wake up, I'm the same.

School finishes at 2:30 so she'll be joining some after school clubs asap otherwise I'm going to struggle to get my hours in at work, thankfully I have a flexible contract, but it's still difficult, I don't know how those who work full time cope.

Thankfully school is only half a mile away. An hours bus ride to school seems a lot, is that your closest school or is it just through choice?

shebird · 09/09/2015 21:18

The whole experience is so full on with meeting new friends, new teachers, new subjects, new travel. Trying to be grown up and keep it all together and trying act cool. Not to mention all the growing and hormones going on too. Poor kids no wonder they are exhausted Shock

Original poster
CocktailQueen · 09/09/2015 22:36

Thanks again.

Mrs Linder - we're out of county for grammar and dd got into grammar. It's a 30 min bus journey and a 15 min walk at the end. If it's longer it's due to rush hour. We thought it was worth it...

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