It’s August. And for many students that means one thing: back to school time, whether that be in person or virtually. For parents, it means getting back into the routine of waking sleepy children for school or virtual learning.

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Waking up a child who is out of practice from the morning grind can be a stressful experience for even the calmest of parents. Rest assured, with some creativity and planning ahead, you can get your child up and ready to go, with little stress by following these tips:

  • Early to bed. One of the easiest ways to ensure your child wakes up on time is to see that they have ample amount of sleep. Some say that preschoolers need at least 10 hours a sleep a night, while kids aged 6 to 12 need at least 9 hours. Kids over the age of thirteen require 8- to 10 hours a night, so be sure to adjust bedtime expectations accordingly.
  • Natural waking. There are a few things you can do to help the dream of natural waking become a reality. A few minutes before they need to wake up, turn on the light in their rooms, open their curtains, and leave the door open. Another way that may help them out of bed is to cook their favorite foods that put off an enticing aroma.
  • Waking incentives. Some call it incentive, others may consider it bribery. Either way, rewarding your children for getting up on their own could be an effective strategy. Consider giving your child a “wake up” bonus by way of something they like.
  • Alarm them. Children want to feel grown up and responsible. One way this can be done is by having them set their own alarm. Maybe a cool alarm sound or new alarm clock will do the trick.
  • Practice makes perfect. Begin practicing your morning routine about two weeks prior to starting the new school year. This will allow everyone in the family time to get comfortable with the process and will make the mornings much easier for all.

Teaching children good-waking patterns is a great way to ensure their day (and yours) gets off to a great start. We hope these tips will help you and your family be prepared for a great school year.