For many people, sleeping in is one of life’s greatest pleasures. It may seem necessary from time to time, but it shouldn’t become routine. From an early age, children are used to waking up late, as they need much more sleep than adults. However, as the first days of school approach, they need to get used to waking up early. An alarm clock is essential to get him used to this new rhythm of life.
You also need to learn how to wake him up gently and gradually, to avoid suddenly upsetting his daily routine. So how do you go about it? The following lines will give you all the answers you need.
Why is getting up early good for your child and the whole family?
When parents get up early, they have the opportunity to plan the day to ensure a more serene atmosphere for their children. This allows them to anticipate problems by scheduling everything that needs to be done in detail. Of course, there will be unforeseen events, but you’ll be less stressed if everything else is well planned. The benefits of an early wake-up call rub off on the whole family, not just the adults. In the case of children, this habit also brings a number of benefits not to be overlooked.
More energy
You’ve probably noticed that when you get up early in the morning, you have more energy than when you sleep in. It’s exactly the same for your child. Of course, it’s imperative that he gets a good night’s sleep and fills the quota of hours required for his age. This will give him all the strength he needs to get through the day, whether at school or at home.
A longer day
Getting up in the morning, going to lunch, going to school, coming home, doing homework, eating and sleeping are all very similar to the boring routine of an adult. A child needs to play to develop. If he wakes up early enough, he’ll have a longer day and more opportunities to have fun. For example, he can have 5 to 10 minutes to himself before leaving for school, but also before going to sleep.
Less stress
Waking up late causes a lot of stress, not only for the parents, but especially for the child. Even if you’ve packed his things the night before and finished preparing breakfast, if he takes a long time to get up, he’ll still be late. That’s when Mom and Dad start screaming. Instead of a cuddle, the child can be reproached at any time. This hectic morning will influence his mood throughout the day, and won’t help him concentrate at school. The most effective way to avoid this is to get him out of bed at a convenient time.
He’ll be more attentive at school
The brain is designed to perform better when stimulated early in the morning. Thanks to this, your child will be much more attentive once he’s at school, as all his senses will be on the lookout for every important piece of information.
Of course, you don’t want to wake your little one up at 5 a.m., because then he could be sleep-deprived. At the risk of dozing off in class, it’s essential that he gets his 10 to 13 hours of sleep.
This influences his good health
The human body is designed to follow a biological clock. If it is respected, a person’s state of health remains stable and can even improve. Waking up early in the morning is one of the routines you need to follow if you want your child to be in good shape, both physically and psychologically.
Getting your child off to a good start in the morning
The quality of a child’s sleep brings many benefits, including physical and intellectual development. But too much sleep kills sleep! That’s why it’s important to teach your child to get up early, so he’s in good shape for the day. For some parents, waking him up can be an obstacle course. Being too brusque isn’t good for his health, and taking your time will make you both late. So you ‘re wondering how to organize my child’s wake-up call.
Start by getting him to sleep on time
To make it easier for your child to wake up in the morning, he needs to have a good night’s sleep. He needs to get enough sleep to regain his strength and avoid dozing off during the day. The average amount of sleep a child needs varies according to age. For a newborn baby, for example, you should expect to sleep between 14 and 17 hours a day. Between 4 and 11 months, this decreases to 12 to 15 h. If your child is between one and 2 years old, make sure he or she sleeps a minimum of 11 hours and a maximum of 14. Once he’s over 3, send him to bed early enough to get at least 10 h of sleep and no more than 13 h.
If you stick to these age-appropriate schedules, you’ll have less trouble waking your little one in the wee hours of the morning.
You should also avoid exposing him to blue light before bedtime. It’s not advisable for a little one to look at a telephone or computer.
A gentle whisper and caresses
Gentleness is always the best way to deal with children. To wake him up without rushing him, gently stroke his hair, give him a little kiss and whisper to him to wake up. It’s a simple but effective method. In fact, even a heavy sleep won’t prevent a child from waking up to see his mom or dad giving him an early-morning cuddle.
Using a child alarm clock
Of course, at first you’ll have to wake your child up yourself. A good cuddle in the morning will help him feel loved, and make his day. However, there will come a time when he’ll have to be independent, obviously when it comes to waking up. If he can’t get up at a specific time, give him a radio alarm clock. The ringing sound emitted by this device will gently rouse him from his sleep. Then all he has to do is get out of bed and quietly wash up.
Teach him to turn off the alarm clock and place it next to his bed so that he can reach it. If you’re worried about your child going back to sleep, activate the “snooze function” if the device has one.
The old curtain technique
A grandma’s trick since the dawn of time, opening the curtains is a good way to wake your children. It may sound drastic, but it’s considered a gentle technique. Of course, there’s no need to scream when you enter the room, as your parents did. Just enter normally and draw the curtains. Daylight will serve as a natural alarm clock, gently rousing him from his slumber. Our tips for designing a small children’s bedroom will help you adapt the space to your child’s needs and help him wake up in the morning.
There are also dawn simulator alarm clocks with a light similar to sunlight. This lights up at exactly the right time for your little one to get up.
The smell of breakfast
To gently rouse him from his slumber, use his stomach. Yes, sleeping for 10 hours straight makes you hungry. Before preparing a good meal each morning, first open the door to his room. The smell of his favorite breakfast is sure to wake him up faster than you think.
You can also motivate him by promising to prepare the dish of his choice, if he manages to get up on time the next day.
Give your child a sense of responsibility
If you force him every morning and scold him for every little thing you don’t like, your child will become unruly and disrespectful. On the other hand, if the effort comes from him and you compliment him regularly, he’ll come out on top. To make him more responsible, you can teach him to pack his things the night before. Teach him to wash himself and to do everything on time. If he doesn’t do his part, including getting up on time, make him understand that he must assume his responsibilities, always gently of course.
Get him to follow a morning routine
The first few times, it may be a little difficult to wake your child up in the morning. To get him used to it quickly, it’s a good idea to establish a morning routine. Every morning, after waking him up, send him straight to breakfast. Then tell him to go and wash his face, brush his teeth and so on. Then direct him to the clothes you’ve already prepared so he can dress himself. After that, it’s time to comb his hair and put on his shoes. This rhythm not only helps him to be meticulous, orderly and responsible, but he’ll also get used to it pretty quickly and automatically wake up when it’s time.
How to prevent him from going back to sleep?
If he’s still drowsy, there’s a good chance he’ll go back to sleep if you leave him alone after he’s woken up. To avoid this and to wake him up completely, give him a hot shower. All his senses will then be fully awake and he’ll be able to move on to another stage of the day that you’ve already prepared.
Alarm clock: a practical yet chic accessory
Going into your child ‘s room every morning to wake him up is all well and good, but after a while, he’ll have to fend for himself like a grown-up. Alarm clocks are practical accessories that can help you get your little one used to getting up at a specific time every day. Of course, there are many different models on the market, so you can choose the one that’s right for you. In our section Children’s alarm clocks: our top 10, you’ll see some interesting models. But how do you choose this type of device, and why should you buy one?
Its main role is to wakechildren up
As its name suggests, this item will be used to wake your child up every morning. It features a clock with an alarm function to ring when it’s time to get up. Depending on your child’s age, you can choose between a radio alarm clock or a children’s alarm clock.
It can also be used to put your child to sleep
In addition to its main function, an alarm clock also serves to boost your child’s sleep. A child’s alarm clock features a nightlight, for example. Models with light projections are also available. This provides a reassuring visual for the child, helping him or her to sleep faster and enjoy an optimal night’s rest. In most cases, there are also lullabies. Items of this kind send gentle children’s songs to calm them and encourage them to sleep.
Educational alarm clocks
There are also educational alarm clocks. These have all the above functions, but with a twist. Forexample, they can be used as a guide for learning to tell the time or to count. Parents no longer need to stay close to their child until he falls asleep, as he can play and learn on his own before going to sleep. It also helps them forget the stress accumulated during the day.
Waking a child: our summary
Waking up a child may seem like a difficult task for some parents, but it’s not. All it takes is the right approach to make the process easier and happier for everyone. Various methods, such as the use of a child alarm clock , can help you to wake up your little one correctly, without rushing him or her. Of course, the above list is not exhaustive. Share your tips and advice with other new parents in the comments section.