Change Your Child’s Night Owl Tendencies

Many of us have trouble adjusting our internal schedules to meet society’s demands. This is particularly true in the stereotypical case of the night owl, who never wants to sleep and never wants to get up and running. As adults, we have to take responsibility for our own sleep choices. But what do we do when our children are night owls and we need them to go to school wide-eyed and ready to learn?

Go to Sleep at Night

Children need to have a fairly rigid schedule when it comes to sleep. If your night owl has trouble falling asleep at a reasonable hour or getting up at being alert at one, then you need to consider the amount and quality of their sleep. School aged children should get at least ten hours of sleep a night whether they are in elementary school or high school.

In fact, studies show that teens are more likely to have trouble regulating their sleep patterns than younger children. If your child has trouble falling asleep at night, make sure that they have a firm bedtime. Help them to prepare for this bedtime by:

* Cutting out caffeinated foods and drinks after about four in the afternoon.
* Feeding them a healthy, but light dinner.
* Limiting sugary or fatty snacks before bedtime.
* Limiting excitement in the hour before bedtime-this includes television and internet time.
* Setting a routine in place.

This last is particularly important because it will help your child’s body to learn to prepare for sleep when it is triggered by the routine. Do not allow your child to alter their bedtime on the weekends either. Try to keep irregularities out of their schedule when you can, as that will make it easier to train their bodies to respond the schedule you have set for them.

Wake up in the Morning

The second part of the sleep equation is getting up. As with bedtime, your child should be on a schedule for this. Do not allow them to sleep in on weekends or during holidays, as this will upset the schedule you have been trying to create by reinforcing their night owl tendencies. Instead, wake your child up on time every morning with an alarm clock. Go ahead and check on them a few minutes after the alarm clock has rung in order to ensure that they are getting out of bed.

One way that you can help your child be more alert in the morning is to expose them to as much sunlight as possible. So keep the curtains open in their room and throughout the house. Copious amounts of sunlight will help to reset their internal clock, notifying the brain that it is time to awake and alert. Finally, help your sleepy child out with a healthy breakfast. This will get their body firing on all systems and help to prepare them for the day.

You might also find the following helpful:

School Lunch Ideas

Parent’s Survival Guide to Puberty

Bullying in Schools

Overcoming Shyness

Teens That Sleep All Day