How do you wake DC?

JMay

My DC does NOT wake up well.  If I leave her to her own devices, she's fine, just a little grumpy. But she'll sleep til 8:30am. School starts at 8am, so ideally I'd like her up by 6:30.  If I try to wake her before she's ready, as I will have to do once school starts, the whole day is upside down. 

We're in a temp place right now and so she has a TV in her room - for the last 2 days I've turned it on to rouse her gently.  I've been hoping that early rise will make her tired so she'll go to bed earlier, then start to wake herself at an earlier time.  So far it's not working.  I hate the TV method and when we move in 2 weeks, she won't have the TV.  Any advice?  I want relaxed and peaceful school mornings!  =-) 

neverblushed

I would recommend letting her pick out an alarm clock she likes, and beginning to use it right away.  I'd introduce it as a special treat because she's "big enough" for this now.  You don't mention her age, but I'm guessing she's starting K, since you don't indicate how you dealt with waking her last school year.  My son is a sound sleeper, and it can be hard to get him moving in the morning.  An alarm clock really helped.  He doesn't resist or argue with the alarm clock!  He's not grouchy with the alarm clock!   

Maybe for the first week, set it for 8:00 or 8:30.  Then, as the school year approaches and she settles into her new room in your new home, start setting it for something closer to 7:00 or 7:30.  Or even get her started waking at 6:30 the last week of summer.

jerol

The alarm clock is a great idea!   It will make her think she is a big girl now (which she is!)

But sometimes if I need DD to wake up earlier than usual I will just open her door and she usually wakes to the sounds of the house and the rest of us getting ready. She usually wakes a little bit after that and comes out and joins us.  

 Whatever you decide definitely start now so she is not completely exhausted at school!!  

STart an earlier bedtime of course too  

ccm1203

When he is super tired, he has slept for several minutes through a beeping alarm clock.  One thing that helps most is opening the shades and coming back a few minutes later, and gently tell him it is time to get up. 

 

I think waking her up a little earlier and gradually moving it earlier and earlier is a great suggestion.  Also I would try for an earlier bedtime. 

JMay

Oh, I love the alarm clock idea!  Like PP shared, she may wind up sleeping through the alarm once she gets used to it, but it could be a big help in the beginning.  She is 5, starting K - and the only 5 year old I know who will get up in the morning simply to reprimand the adults for speaking too loudly while she's trying to sleep!  (She gets that from me, because her Father spent the last year working late, so we'd stay quiet in the mornings so he could sleep... she's not really that snotty!)

I'm making bedtime earlier and waking her up earlier, but it's still rather unpleasant.  Hoping that a few weeks in school will help to solidify our new routine.  I'll let you all know how the alarm clock goes!