Help with 10 Year Old That Cant Get Going in the Morning.

My son is similar, he is 13. We made his bed time earlier than usual because he clearly needed more sleep. He is the only teenager I know who has a 9:00 bedtime. Also I found a tea at Nob Hill called "Bonkers", its for alertness and clarity. It's a black tea and is good with honey, you might try giving her that in the morning.I would have it ready before she gets up so it has time to cool a little. Good luck!

Wow...lots of responses. I feel differently about showers in the morning, especially in the winter. I definitely agree with incentives and earlier bed times. If my son starts to lag in the mornings than the bedtime go's back to 7:30 ouch...I know...but after consistently getting up on time...bedtime moves to 8....no later than 8:30. I only allow my kids 1 choice show during the week for half hour and 2 hours on Sat/Sun...Also, I have my kids layout clothes for the next day. I think it's good for kids to know team work, I have my 10yr old be responsible in the mornings to help get his 5yr old brother ready for school. And keeping him accountable if lil brother is ready or not helps him to stay on track in the mornings. Honestly, its hard to say if it's temporary...I was your daughter once...lol...I used to tell my mom with my eyes closed..."shhhh, I'm thinking"...
Best of luck

We have a 10 year old with the same problem, and all tend to stay up later than we should. Earlier bedtimes have helped, as well as playing her favorite music in the morning, sharing a special breakfast together, or even making a date to go out for bagels or hot chocolate before school if she can get ready early enough. Our daughter also loves to read, and be read to, so if she's ready in the morning with time to spare, we can read a few chapters together. These incentives work for her, at least.

K. L

I too have a 10 yr old girl who can be challenging in the morning. I know she likes to have warm clothes in the morning so each night her and my 5 yr old boy pick out their clothes and toss them in the dryer and in the morning before I wake them I start the dryer for about 10 mins. I also moved their bedtime to between 8:30 and 9 and have her take a shower in the morning as this seems to help her wake up. You can also try waking her a few minutes earlier than your other children.
It is very important to realize that she is still young and even though as an adult you may be able to wake up with a little bit of sleep, her wake/sleep requirements a very different. Instead focus on the times she gets up with less coaxing and tell her how proud you are that she got up after only, say, 5 min of coaxing, include her thoughts in a plan to help her wake up (that will make her feel more in control and apprecitated) and most importantly, dont compare her to your other children. All children are unique in their habits, especially within families. Comparing her to the other children can leave her feeling that she is not good enough and adds to any existing sibling rivalry.
I too am a mother of 4 children (14, 12, 10 & 5) with a full time job. I find that children can be very clever (especially the older ones) at coming up with ways to get extra attention even if it may be negative.
So have patience and try to see it from her point. This is all temporary, they grow up soo fast and one day you may find yourself longing for these days back as a respite from the teenager who just rolled her eyes at you and acts as if you are the biggest idiot in the world.
Best Wishes J.

Hi S..
What time is she going to sleep at night? You might try moving bedtime earlier by 20-30 mins until she starts waking up easier. Dr. Marc Weissbluth, a pediatrician who has written about the importance of healthy sleep, feels that most kids go to bed too late. I know that when I was your daughter's age, I had the same problem. I now realize that my bedtime as a child was too late. Studies say that the average adult needs between 7-9 hours of sleep per night and kids need alot more sleep than an adult. Good luck!
L.

Do your kids shower or bathe at night? If so, try getting your daughter up 15 minutes earlier to take a shower. You can get the water ready to facilitate the process. Set a timer, so that she has to turn the water off after the timer sounds. You may find the water wakes her up and makes her feel good, and the rest of your morning may move a little better. Also, getting up before the other kids may eliminate some of the friction in the morning. Another trick might be to wake her up with some cocoa or orange juice. Just like I need my coffee to get ticking in the morning, she might like the boost from a few sips of o.j. or cocoa to get her moving. If it's any consolation, I have a son who is a slow mover, too and I know how tough the mornings can be getting everyone out the door on time.

What time does she go to bed? We had that problem with my grandson and now he is fine. The bedtime is 8PM and we don't give him anything to eat or drink (except for water) as the time approaches. His TV and video time has been cut to weekends only. Instead he reads a book before bed and a few minutes while in bed. Hope this helps.

This could just be part of her natural sleep cycle. A new report came out the other day about schools that start a little later in the morning have better attendance, higher test scores and a lower drop out rate because the kids are getting up closer to their natural wake up time. Not that that really helps your problem any.

Talk to her pediatrician about melatonin supplements. If you can get her melatonin to start to climb earlier in the evening her body may start to shift her wake up time. Also encourage your daughter to take a nap when she gets home from school. If she's better rested when she goes to bed at night she will likely sleep better and wake up more well rested.

Good luck