How can you let a toddler know whether it's morning or not?

[smurfmother]

Now our ds is in a bed (he's 2 and 4 mo), he comes into our room when he wakes up and says 'is it morning yet?'. I feel (perhaps over-optimistically) that he might stay in bed singing (which he enjoys doing) or playing in his room until a reasonable time (maybe 6.30), but how do I convey the time to him when he can't read a clock?

We used a small light on a timer switch.

(you can sneakily adjust it at weekends )

Ha ha, my DD is 2.6 and she just shouts "DD's awake!" Thats it, once she's woken its weetabix time and we're off.

Have just shelled out for the gro clock in order to try and reclaim a little peace though. Not tried it yet so will have to see.

There is a clock with bunny ears that you can get. You set the alarm so the ears pop up when it is time to get up, if they are down he stays in bed. Well that's the theory anyway!

or the famous bunny clock - two variations from Jojo here and here

Some of the fancy ones have a 12 hour clock which can be a nuisance if your lo sleeps for a long time - for example if they go to bed at 7pm and wake up at 7am you can't set the alarm until after they are asleep.

And some toddlers have been know to break them by trying to force bunny's eyes open

IMO a timer switch is cheaper, more reliable and doesn't need resetting each night.

We had a bunny clock, but it used to wake up at the wrong times. Very annoying

We use a timer switch on a bedside light now.

They have to stay in bed, quietly untill it comes on, at 6.30 am.

If they are still asleep then, bonus!!!

We use a Thomas version of the bunny clock - when Thomas's eyes open, DS1 can get out of bed and come into our bedroom. He gets a star each morning he manages to comply with it and after 7 stars gets a reward.

We tried it when he was just over 2 but it didn't work (probably because of the arrival of his baby brother rather than his age ) - anyway, we started reinforcing it again over the last month and it has worked very well. I can only think of one occasion where he didn't stay in his room and a quick reminder that he wouldn't get his star if he didn't go back and play/read books soon had him trotting back.

Thanks for all the suggestions. I've ordered the Thomas one as it's a bit cheaper - plus anything with Thomas on is bound to be a hit. Not as cheap as a light/timer switch I realise, but the layout of his room means the electric sockets/cables can't be put out of his way.