Mornings with a Teenager Is Not Fun!

I also told my kids if they didnt get up in the morning within reason than they needed to go to bed earlier. So the next night they would go bed earlier. I have also threatened to dump water on their head. THEY hear you they just dont wanna get up. Take them blankets, sing off key what ever you need to do. Maybe he is up on the cell phone when he should be in bed. ( I have caught this happening with my 17 year old)

My husband gets up a little before the teen is supposed to (they are my stepkids). If the kid isn't up on time, then he wakes them. If they miss the bus, they pay $10 fine to the person that had to drive them in. If they make the person late, they "owe" that time later.

We have also gone the route of making the kid go to bed earlier because if he can't get up on time, then he needs more sleep. My stepson was using an alarm apparently only I could hear and I finally reminded him of the go to bed early rule and he made his choice to actually get up. I basically said, "Look, you don't want to be in bed by 9:30 and I don't want to be woken up at 5:30 when your alarm goes off for the millionth time. Work with me here."

The last thing we did was take cell phones, etc. and charge them somewhere the kid couldn't access them at night, like in the kitchen or our room.

Hope that helps!

I don't have teenagers, but I'd say positive reinforcement is probably more effective than negative (taking stuff away). I'd recommend a plan of action that includes: If you get up and get ready for school on time for X number of days, you get one hour extra of curfew, movie out with a friend, etc. Make the prize small, not cost very much, but still incite motivation. Of course, bribery can only go so far. But maybe you can have a longer term goal of X number of weeks earns a camping trip, tickets to a sporting event or something else that's "bigger." Good luck. I am just dealing with a toddler now--I can't imagine how much of a challenge the teen years will be!
All best,
A.

I agree with Katherine. I used a pitcher of water "one time" now he gets up by the second call. If the phone is keeping them up at night, by all means take it away at night. Remember some of the tactics your parents used to get you out of bed.

My mom used to have a hard time getting my little brother out of bed in the mornings, so she bought him this really annoying alarm clock. Here's a link to one similar to what he had:
http://www.thinkgeek.com/homeoffice/lights/9171/?cpg=froogle

Good luck!

he might just not be a morning person. have him go to bed earlier, tha might help.

Glass of ice water over the head? =)
one time worked for me when I was a teenager....

Stay with the positives -- work with your teenage to discuss what he needs to help him get out of bed in the morning. I think it is better to rub his back, encourage him to get up out of bed, turn the light on in the room.

I have been reading "Positive Discipline for Teenagers" -- great advice. Also Celebrating Calm website has an enewsletter with some great tips.

It is best to keep the relationship and communication with your son open so stay with the positive discipline. If you must go to taking something away - let him decide what should be removed to encourage him to get moving in the morning.

good Luck!

A.

Relate it to something that's important to him - like driving lessons, etc. If he gets up on time for x num of days,...

M.

Make the consequence to not getting up on time an earlier bedtime. Also, make sure there are no electronic social distractions -- a computer, ipod, cellphone, etc. in his room at night. Try to be completely matter of fact -- it's his job to make sure he gets enough sleep to be able to get up. Since he isn't doing that job, you will briefly help him by removing things and insisting that he be in bed with the lights out at the ridiculous time of 8:15, 9:00 7:40 or whatever you think would be appropriate. When he does his job, he'll no longer need your help.

If he snores, you may want to get him checked for sleep apnea. If he's not getting good sleep, it may be almost impossible to wake up. Sleep apnea is practically epidemic in the USA now.

M.,
First, I attended a STEP (Systematic Training for Effective Parenting) class provided through FCPS. One of the things I learned was to realize that most of what my teen boy did was to elicite a reaction from me, even the negative reactions. I found the STEP program crucial to understanding my teen. He still drives me nuts but I have tools to try to communicate with him.

Second, in our house, I speak few words to my son in the morning. I don't engage in conversation when he says things like, "I hate school...This sucks...". Or when he grumbles all the way to the bathroom. All I say is, "The time is 6am. It is time to wake up." Then I walk away. I listen in the hall for noise to indicate he is up. I might say,"Get dressed in clean clothes" or "Brush teeth and use deodorant" But what I don't do is argue, no matter how much my son provokes me. It only makes me more upset and nothing good comes from it.

We have to do what works for our own families. You only have about 2 &1/2 weeks left of school mornings. Good luck to you.

K.

Ask the 15 yo what might be helpful. You should brainstorm together. Feeling involved in the process is sometimes helpful. m

Two suggestions. First, what is the plan for bedtime? If he/she handles bedtime alone, say "Clearly you can't handle the responsibility of getting to bed on time. If you wake up past x o'clock again, we will institute a new bedtime." The continue to move up bedtime whenever needed. Give the kid one week at the new bedtime and if it isn't better, move it up again, etc. As long as you enforce it, it will be effective (after much grousing, of course).
Secondly, now that it is summer say "anyone who gets up by 8 gets to come to the pool!" or "let's go out to breakfast, if you are up and dressed by 9" or " if you wake up before breakfast, you get to choose what i make" and then stock up on bacon or waffles or whatever is the favorite.
Good luck!!!