Every parent knows the struggle of waking up kids for school. The challenge is greater after a long summer vacation. How can you coerce your children to get out bed at 6 AM when they're used to waking up a bit later? Know 10 tricks to prepare your kids for their morning classes.
#1: Let your kids adopt a bedtime ritual
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It's back to school time! Help your kids wake up early easily by allowing them to adjust to their morning schedule a week before their classes. This will reset their body clock, which may have been disrupted by their summer activities.
One of the easiest sleeping adjustments for kids is to let them have a bedtime ritual. “The body loves rhythm and predictability,” said sleep expert Dr. Neil Stanley. Their bedtime rite should begin at least an hour before going to bed. It can involve a hot shower, drinking hot milk or reading a book. The key is consistency. Do the same activities at the same time every night.
#2: Impose a “no gadget” rule
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Why is it hard for your kids to wake up early? It's likely that they're not getting the right amount of sleep at night. The National Sleep Foundation recommends the following sleep duration for children:
Preschoolers (3-5 years): 10 to 13 hours School-aged children (6-13 years): 9 to 11 hours Teenagers (14-17 years) 8 to 10 hours
Make sure your kids attain the recommended hours of sleep each night by imposing a “no gadget” rule at least an hour before bedtime. The blue light in smartphones, tablets, and laptops suppresses the sleep hormone melatonin.
#3: Choose a high-quality mattress
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How to wake up your child in the morning without the yelling and wailing? Help him/her get sufficient sleep at night on a comfortable mattress. Check out Uratex Premium mattresses that cradles the body and eases pressure. Let your kid get a good night's sleep on a high-quality bed that also promotes good blood circulation and natural body alignment. Also, you can save a lot of money because Uratex Philippines makes durable mattresses that can last for many years.
#4: Play good music in the morning
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Waking up kids early in the morning can be frustrating. Don't let this struggle ruin everybody's mood for the rest of the day. As a parent, you're obliged to be creative. Instead of a boisterous alarm clock, you can put on good music while your children wake up. This will put them in a better mood to start their day.
Spotify and music psychologist David M. Greenberg created a wake-up playlist that's scientifically proven to help you wake up easily and happily. The playlist include Viva La Vida by Coldplay, Elevate by St. Lucia, Downtown by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Lovely day by Bill Withers, and Wake Me Up by Avicii.
#5: Cook a sumptuous breakfast
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Entice your little children to get out of bed in the morning by cooking their favorite breakfast. Nothing can encourage them to head downstairs more than the smell of bacon, ham, and pancakes.
Breakfast is considered as the most important meal of the day. Make sure your kids get a healthy balance of carbohydrates, protein, and fats to keep them stay productive all morning. If your child isn't in the mood for a full meal (and most teens don't), you can prepare a fruit smoothie or yoghurt with a piece of fruit like banana.
#6: Wake up your kids with sunshine
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The body is conditioned to wake up as the sun rises and to sleep when the sun has set. If you're having a hard time waking up your children in the morning, make sure their bedroom has at least one window for natural light. Open the window, draw the curtain, and let the warm sunshine wake your kids from their slumber. You can also opt for artificial wake-up lights or sunrise alarms.
#7: Give them a traditional alarm clock
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Not only do gadgets make it harder for your kids to fall asleep, these can also interrupt their slumber with the notifications. This is extra problematic with teens active in social media. Order your children to either turn off their smartphones or put them on silent mode an hour before going to bed. It's better if you can keep those gadgets away from their bedrooms. Set an example to your children. Everybody must disconnect from the digital world at certain hours of the day.
To wake them up at 6 AM, give them an alarm clock and don't let them hit snooze.
#8: Ask help from your kids' furry friends
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What's the best way to wake up kids early? You should understand your children to know how to help them get out of bed in the morning. Are they early birds or night owls? Do they wake up in a good mood or foul mood? Perhaps their favorite bacon and waffles combo can entice them to prep for school.
If you've run out ideas, seek assistance from their furry pals. Who can resist a cute puppy waking you up in the morning?
#9: Have a morning exercise routine
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The habits you teach your kids may impact their lives in later years. Teach them a healthy and active lifestyle as early as possible. To help them start their day right, schedule morning exercises before breakfast. Nothing strenuous. You can do stretching, breathing exercises, and walking. A 30-minute routine will make a lot of difference. Make this a family activity every morning, even on weekends. Remember: consistency is key.
#10: Let experience teach your kids
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There's no better teacher than experience. Let your children experience the consequences of sleeping in. They will miss out on breakfast, be late for their classes, and skip on playdates. This is a good training for the many challenges they'll be facing in life. They should learn that all their decisions have consequences.
Waking up kids in the morning is one of the challenges of parenthood. It may involve threats, frustration, and a lot of drama. Don't let this routine ruin everybody's day. Know your kids and their needs, and understand the best ways to get them out of bed at 6 AM.