THE #1 PROBLEM ~ Kids oversleeping on school-mornings.

Pick a time after school to talk about what went wrong that morning – don’t attempt these conversations in the heat of  lateness.  When you and your kid are up for a chat,  ASK

 ~  WHY is this happening?

Ask your kid what’s getting in the way of them hopping out of bed on time. Late night movie? Giggling with a sleepover guest? Dreading the day? Bed too darn cozy?

~  WHAT needs to happen? 

Depends on the WHY doesn’t it.  Too late to bed? Re-establish bedtime. Giggling guests? Maybe no mid-week sleepovers. Dreading the day? Is there something stressful today or is every morning tough? One stressful morning you can problem-solve quickly, but a pattern of not liking school needs more. (Watch for a post about this.) Bed too darn cozy? Indeed! This kid needs to work their discipline muscle!

~  WHOSE problem is it?

Remember parents, this is your child’s life. For kids in primary and intermediate school, getting up and heading off to learn is their job. Having them climb into their own life begins with getting out of bed. (See HOW below for ideas to make this more fun). If older teens are resisting school at this point, check in. Are they just reluctant because it’s not fun but they know they’ll see school through? Or might they be experiencing a very real emotional response to an environment that is not suited to their learning? (Watch for a post on “Rebellious Teens”).

 ~  HOW to make it better?

For younger kids, increasing their responsibility is fun. Resign from alarm-clock duties. Buy one and teach your child how to tell time and set their own clock. Buy a stopwatch so your child can time themselves each morning and strive for “personal bests” (never make this a race between siblings!). Make the morning routine calm, predictable and with highlights (tasty breakfast?). Ask your kids – “How can we make getting up more fun?”

BOTTOM LINE

How you handle any issue with your child will do one of two things: it will bring you closer and your child will feel:

• My folks are on my team
• They believe in me
• They know I can solve my own problems
• They think I can be successful
• They care about what I feel
• They help me figure out what I need

OR

it will push you apart and your child will feel:

• My folks aren’t on my team
• They don’t believe in my abilities
• They think I’m too dumb to solve my own problems
• They think I am a looser
• They don’t care about how I feel
• They have no idea about what I need

EVERY CONVERSATION MATTERS!