How can I make my 5 yr old go to bed before 10pm??

Question

He procrastinates every time I say its time to go up to bed, is there a fun, easy way? Or just have to fight with him on this?

Answer 1

If your 5 yr old wakes at 7 am, he needs to be in bed and sleeping by 8 pm (at 5 yrs old, he needs 11 hours of sleep per night). That said, after dinner have him do something low key--maybe a tv show from 6:30 to 7 pm. At 7, he should take a shower/bath, get his pj's on, and have 2 or 3 books read to him. At 7:45 or 8:00, he should be tucked in. There is no procrastination--no child wants to go to sleep. Don't invite a fight--here's what we're doing and here's how it's being done. Let him know that if he fights with you, he will lose a book, two books, or all 3 books the more he procrastinates. If it continues, then he loses them for multiple nights, loses that tv time, or a favorite toy. Bedtime isn't a battle for those parents who don't make a big deal out of it. You need to dim the lights after dinner and do something low key. No naps at age 5, either. If he's napping, it's time to cut those out because he'll never go to sleep after having one. Good luck!

Answer 2

Have the same bedtime routine each night (in our house, where the kids take showers in the morning, we have pjs, washing up, and brushing teeth, then about half an hour of reading aloud, then another half hour where the kids can read to themselves in bed (or just look at books if they don't read yet). Other families like to include a bath in that routine since it can relax kids. Make sure before he gets in bed he uses the bathroom and brings everything with him that he could reasonably want (glass of water, book, whatever). If you're reading to him in his room then he's already in bed doing something fun, so there's no fight to get him there. After that, you turn the lights off and there are no excuses! The good thing about a 5-year-old is you can still just scoop him up and bring him back to his room. If he's still wandering around after that, you can say that the bedtime routine will have to start 15 minutes earlier the next day until he starts being asleep at a reasonable time....

Make sure he's getting lots of exercise during the day so he's tired when you want him to go to sleep, and don't do stimulating stuff right before bed. Also, there's some evidence that screen time (tv or computer) before bed makes it harder to fall asleep, so make sure that happens earlier in the day.

Answer 3

Have you tried a bedtime routine. Or maybe when it is time for bed go a read a couple books in bed. This will help calm him down. One thing I do with my 5 yr old nephew is draw things on his back with my finger. He loves it and it puts him right to sleep. Or make a game out of it. If he won't go upstairs try and do something fun like time him or sing a song and he has to be in bed before the song is over.

Answer 4

The answer to this question is simple. You are the parent and he is the child. You set the bedtime and he in turn goes to bed or gets punished for non compliance. The fact that he fights you on this, all the time, tells me that you have set no consiquences for his misbehavior or at best have not followed through on your threats of punishment for his acting out. The child must learn that he will be held accountable for his actions, and must pay a price for disobeying you the parent. You must set the same time and stick to it each night. Try not to change times, as this will confuse the child. If he does not comply or puts up a fight you must punish him in some way and stick to your guns on this. You may at first have to actualy punish him but he will soon learn who is the parent here. He may cry and put up a tantrum but let it pass for we you are not being cruel or a mean parent. When we punish or children for their disobediance, what we are actualy doing is teaching them right behavior from wrong behavior and showing them more love than if we let them get away with things. Also, remember that if you don't set boundries and rules now than you set yourself up for a child who will turn into a teenager who thinks he can get away with anything. You must be the parent and soon enough he will listen. Do it for the good of the child and your sanity. In the end you both will be glad you did. He will be a better child who will turn into a better adult than if you let him get away with things now. Also, you can tell him what my dad told me " son, when you start paying the bills around here than you can tell me how it's going to be, until then shut up"

Answer 5

You just have to show him who is boss. Don't think you're being mean because he has to learn.. otherwise, he will push you all the time thinking he can get away with everything....A fun routine you could do is bathtime around 7pm .. read him a book (let him pick it out or even let him read it to you if he can read it)..And then talk about what you have planned to do the next day so he can have something to look forward to.. Like if he is in school, you could talk about that......But if he still isn't wanting to go to bed, then thats when you have to be fierce with him... I'd try to have him in bed at least by 8:30

Answer 6

your the parent put your foot down and tell him no its bedtime. you need to stop allowing him to procrastinate. tell him its time for bed at 7:30pm no id ands or buts about it. and make him . id he fights you swat his backside and grab his arm without force and make him. take him to the bathroom and make him pee and brush his teeth then to his room for pjs a story and bed. also night diaper if he wears one /read the story turn on the night light and soft music and leave. if he gets up take him back without a word said

be consistent, he needs sleep for school. this boy is running your home not you stop this now your the parent and adult get a grip on this boy before it gets worse. this should have never been allowed to begin with

Answer 7

No sorry yet husband is physically powerful in this. I used to paintings at a daycare wherein the mothers remark that there little ones stay wide awake till 9-10 at evening and properly they are cranky the following day. a sturdy bedtime is 8-9pm that way they get a sturdy 10+ hours of sleep.

Answer 8

usually i tell him or her to go to sleep, and use whatever they are procrastinating on.

For example if he isn't going to bed because he is waiting for his mommy, I'll say If you go in your bed and stay there mommy will come home right away! And tell them they just have to wait.

Get my jist? Hope This Helps!

Answer 9

Tell him if he doesn't go to bed he will not be able to watch his favorite shows the next day, AND STICK TO IT. He will never learn to respect the rules of the house if you let him get his way all the time.

Answer 10

well send him to bed at six, then by the time hes done procrastinating it will be eight...and then he will learn that if he wants to spend less time in his room getting ready for bed that he will go to sleep when u tell him its bed time.