Okay, how do I stop DD reading all night?

[mrsruffallo]

DD is a real bookwarm I have just gone in to check that she is sleepinghand she is sneakily reading again.
She is 7.
Any suggestions/same experiences?

Remove the books - what all 200+ of them, not sure where I'd put them

I was thinking that too, Cargirl. Our house is full of the pesky things, and DS's room is no exception. 'Tis hardly surprising that he is a reading obsessive (he's another one who reads until far, far too late, including on the loo - he spent 45 minutes allegedly doing a poo this evening, of which 44 minutes was reading).

Ho hum.

Who wants a house without books anyway?

LOL at Lgi's son 45 mins in the lav

Tee hee. I did not laugh at all when DH also wanted a poo and found the loo still occupied by DS and his reading matter.

I did the same and never came to any harm, I still can't do anything where I can possibly read without something to read, eg. drying my hair. At about that age though, I was persuaded to fall asleep to audio books though as an alternative.

She was reading her book whilst walking along the street yesterday- it brought back so many memories!!

I was a total bookworm (still am for that matter), and used to read using the streetlamp outside my window. I don't think my parents did anything much, but my big sister used to sneak up on me and then yell (I was way to absorbed to notice her coming).

My two aren't as hooked, so if I catch them I just remove the book they are into, and that does the job (I just put it outside their room). If I am suspicious I just check quite a bit, but as our living room and the childrens bedrooms are on the same floor it's easy to keep an eye.

I would probably just leave it. I eventually learnt to go to sleep at a reasonable time.

My parents said that I was 'addicted to print' when I was younger.

Truth is, I still am.

And I actively encourage my dc to read in the loo.

This thread has made me smile!
I was exactly the same, drove my parents demented!
In the winter they took the bulb out of my light - my bed was next to the window and i used to lift the corner of my curtain and read until it was pitch black if i couldnt sneak my watch with back light to bed!
In the summer i was up even later - would read until i fell asleep and the get in trouble in the morning because the book was still in my hands
Probably not much you can do really, she will only find ways around it! And probably wont grow out of it - i still read up until daft o'clock
Still i dont think it has done me too much lasting damage! And my eyesight is still fine despite all those hours spent reading in dismal light!

I used to read like this and I'm not sure there is much you can do as a parent. However, I do have two tips for you.

1. please make sure that your DD uses a light when reading at night - either a night light or a reading torch. Don't tell her off for reading with her light on, she'll just learn to read in the dark instead.
   I used to read in the dark. My eyesight is terrible, and I'm sure that reading in the dark didn't do me any favours.

2. do not be tempted to rip up any of the books. My dad did this in anger/frustration a couple of times when I was still reading in the dark. It didn';t change my reading habits, but it upset me (well probably both of us TBH) terribly and made me very resentful.

Take away the lamp/book (she probably won't pick up another as she will be hooked on whatever she has been reading) after a certain time once she has had an hour or so reading if she carries on. She is not going to get the best out of her learning at school if she is exhausted the following day. Having said that I used to do this with a torch all night well into my teens and did ok. Wish I had time to read a book these days!

ooh reading this with interest, have a 13 year old who has been a book worm since she was very little, I have tried everything under the sun to try and make sure she was sleeping more and reading less at night, but to no avail I'm afraid - if you have a kid that loves books then nothing will stop them, if it's any concelation at all she is in the top class in most subjects and is very happy and doing well x

my 9yr old DS is the same.
we combat it with him going to bed with the little ones at 7.30pm. light is on a timer which goes off an 9pm. an alarm to wake him in the morning at 7.15am and only one lie in a week.
his bed is always full of books!

Ah bless, I used to be exactly the same, even to the point of reading under the curtain until j could only make out one letter in three (still enough to keep reading!). I'm not sure that I would be overly strict about it - I disagree that it would be the same as a playstation, reading is good for the brain and usually you sleep well after reading (ie it doesn't overstimulate you).

When I was a bit older I even read throughout the entire night on occasion if I was too scared to sleep (eg if I had been watching Jaws, although how a killer whale would come and get me on the first floor up a hill I don't know). If it's any consolation, I've got a fairly impressive academic record.

My parents used to come and tell me lights out, time to stop at the given time, and then come back in after another 15 mins or so to check I wasn't still reading. Sometimes I would pretend to be asleep though, and still carry on, so you might have to check a few times (and do an early lights off to allow for sneaky Reading afterwards). I think it's best if she learns to manage her own sleep and reading if possible.

I guess it was a bit easier in the 70s though, as books were still expensive, so once I was through my 5 book a week allocation from the library, that was it.

It does really depend on if you actually do think your DD is tired nd should be listening to you, and not go againt your bedtime rules - if so, then discipline as you would do anything else...

...or if youa re actually proud that she is reading half he night despite the tiredness consequence - in which case, do nothing.

And if a child is tired then there IS something wrong with reading all night and it does need to be stopped - and yes, it IS possible to prevent it. ESPECIALLY AT AGE 7!

I do suspect however, many parents on here, dpn't want their child really to be not reading and are infact just proud of the fact their children are reading so late.

And I do knpow where people are coming from - but sometimes a pafrent does have to make a stand if a child's sleep is being affected/

Yes, I agree Hulababy. I was thinking after my post that could also try upping the physical activities in the day, plus encouraging really difficult books - the combination of the two should get the eyelids drooping earlier!

Ultimately I was too scared of my parents to read all the time. Just some of the time

Like many others on this thread, I read avidly into the small hours for years, devouring anything and everything (our small community/school library had to order books in for me sometimes because I'd read everything even vaguely suitable ). I managed to drag myself through school and get a professional degree so I'm not too scarred by it. I also have very good spelling which I attribute directly to reading widely.

I'd suggest factoring physical activities in if you can, before bed (and reading) time. And audio books are an excellent idea - lights out, CD on, fab. I still remember Nanette Newman reading Beauty and the Beast on cassette - I think it came free with Golden Syrup!

It's a wonderful habit. And I'm a little bit when I see people trying so hard to prevent their kids reading. Lots of fresh air and exercise and the sleep will come [optimistic]

Of course, now its mumsnet keeping me up.... Must go to bed....

I would never dream of stopping a child from reading suring the day - BUT I would late at night if a chil was waking aup still tired and actually looking tired. I would also not be wanting my child to only want to read, and not be taking lots of active exercise as well. Even reading needs some moderation! It is, after all, a very sedate activity.