4 year old up at dawn

[Madcat22]

DS (4 years) wakes up every day between 5-5.30. He used to wake between 6-6.30 but this is the exception now. It's affecting his behaviour and attention in school. We are knackered. Tried everything: Gro clock didn't work. He has a rigid bedtime routine and goes to sleep at 7.30. Putting bedtime back or earlier doesn't work. Trying to keep him in his room doesn't work; he gets louder and more stroppy and wakes his baby sister. Any ideas please?

Oh DS1 did this, I just let him get on with it. He's 24 and still wakes up at 5. What used to be really frustrating was that he used to play with Lego or read comics until 6.30 when I came to get him up.

My eldest was the same and I tried everything. In the end what worked was using the Gro clock with a sticker chart with rewards. I set the sun time for 6.30 and had a seven day chart system. When she stayed in her room until her sun (I didn't expect her to sleep) she got a sticker, if she woke anyone else up before her sun she didn't. When she got seven, she got a prize she wanted, an app usually. I tried to think of things that she really wanted so I could use it to encourage her to entertain her self quietly till a reasonable hour. She is still an early riser but she is much better.

My ds was/is just the same. He is now 11 and still waking up about 5.30. putting bedtime back didn't work as he still woke up early but was then tired from lack of sleep.

I just let him get on with it. It's far easier when they are older as he can now go downstairs without needing to wake us up to entertain him!

DS2 was like this. Eventually we bought a DVD player and let him put on a DVD, but the rule was he had to stay in bed. I used to get up, take him back to bed climb in with him and fall asleep whilst he watched Thomas.

FWIW he is 13 now and doesn't get up until lunchtime

Thanks for these. Gro clock with sticker chart attempted unsuccessfully already I'm afraid. I have sort of resigned myself to just living with it, apart from the concern it affects his behaviour in school. We are in to see the school nurse next week to discuss his behaviour and attention; he is lovely and well behaved in most ways but simply won't sit still in lessons or assembly. His behaviour improves when he has slept better. He also has major breakdowns frequently over tiny things when tired which is exhausting.

Can you ask the teacher to help by dishing put the sticker? He may listen more to them?

My dd is almost 9 and still wakes at 5am, we have got used to it but usually means I'm in bed by 10pm to compensate.