Any parenting advice for too tired 5 yr old?

My son was always a good napper. He starts school in just a few weeks, and has been going without naps all summer at daycare. He's put in some long days. Lately, he's been having very bad meltdowns around 6PM-7PM. I've been trying to get him to bed earlier, and let him sleep a little later (no later than 7 AM, try to put to bed by 9 PM). Any thoughts?


School may be easier because its less physical than even his days off with me. I'm still very concerned, and am having a hard time dealing with mealdowns that last a long time, like a collicky baby.Any parenting advice for too tired 5 yr old?
Maybe give him some ';down time'; each day. You want to probably try and stop naps if he is going to school. I have to say my daughter who is 6 went to Kindergarten last year and was wiped out when she got home. They have recess, gym and then just having to pay attention and behave wipes them out. Just give him some downtime when he gets home from school. Maybe they aren't providing a snack in the afternoon? I know if my kids need water, food or sleep they meltdown. I would say a child at 5 shouldn't be up at 9pm. He should be going to bed by 7:30-8:00 at the very least and sleeping until 7am. My son is three and is in bed by 7:15 and my six year old is in bed asleep by 8:00! They both will sleep until 7:00 and need that sleep, my son even still naps. If he is having meltdowns, change the bedtime!Any parenting advice for too tired 5 yr old?
I have a feeling your real answer is that he needs more sleep and should be going ot bed earlier. I know that it can just be hard to get the night time routine stuff going and done and actually getting the kid into bed and asleep by a certain time but, if that's the issue then you need to work on it if you want the situation to improve. I think 9:00 is definitely on the late side for a 5 yr old to be going to bed. My daughter was in bed at 7:30 at that age and slept until 7 in the morning. I remember specifically because in the summer she asked me once if she was ever going to get to see the night time again. My son also needed a good 12 hours of sleep on a regular basis until he was about 8 years old. He is 11 now and I'm concerned about him having to wake up by 7 every morning in order to make it to middle school on time. He should still be going to sleep by 9:00 regularly but, sometimes he even has evening activities (which I think are way too late) and he just can't get to bed early enough. So I do know the problem!! But, at 5 yrs old -- he really will be cranky if he doesn't get more sleep.


The other issue is not related to being able to get him into bed earlier but it's more what you said about him getting energy just when it seemed like he should be on his way to getting tired. That is a sign that he is overtired. Kids get hyper and act wild when they are overly tired. Is there any way you could start the bed time routine substantially earlier and therefore avoid the 7 o'clock meltdown. He is having those meltdowns at that hour because that is really when he needs to be going to sleep. If you need to wake him up every morning, he is not getting enough sleep. He needs to be able to sleep until he is ready to wake up, at least most of the time. On a regular basis, he needs to get enough sleep or he will be continuously overtired and that will not be fun for either of you. Good luck!
As strange as it may sound, he may be over stimulated, and cannot compensate for it. You may need to establish a ';quiet'; time each day. A time where he can sort of ';veg';, but not in front of the television.





Playing soothing music, such as classical, may be a help. He can use his imagination to create a picture in his mind, while listening to a tape or CD.





If the problems persist, even after school starts, talk to your Pediatrician. He/she will give you some ideas on how to handle the meltdowns, and might be able to help figure out what the problem is.





Many people will be quick to say ';Put him on Ritalin';. While Ritalin CAN be a help, it should only be used as a last resort. There are tests the doctor can conduct to determine if medications are needed. If it turns out he doesn't need medication, there are books available to help you learn how to redirect his energies.





Good luck. School just may be the very thing he needs, to help him keep calm, even when at home.
9:00 pm is really late for little guys that age. My daughter went to bed at 8:00 pm no later, she got one story then lets out. I started a wind down process at 7:00 a nice relaxing bath with johnson's lavender bath, and then jammies, watch a 1/2 hour of a video,(if theres time) and then bed and story. If she wanted a snack we usualy sqeezed that in while we were watching the video. This was routine until she was about 10 yrs old. I started when she was about 1 on this rountine. But she has always had an early bedtime. I wish you luck. At this age he will fight it, but remember ur the mom, and its your rules and he needs his rest. Even now at 12 my daughter is in bed at 9:00 and lights out at 9:30 in winter and lights out at 10 in the summer.


Take care.


Morgaine
I totally agree with the ';down time'; comment. Maybe you could get him into a routine after dinner time (get him a relaxing bath with some favorite toys) and then play some board games with him (or something not requiring alot of energy to get him all energized again) Start a chapter book with him and read him a chpter each night before bed so he looks forward to this realxing time everynight.





Hopefully this helps a bit. Good luck!
I never could take a nap at that age.Try letting him stay up all day so he sleeps sound all night.I bet if he is taking a nap during the day he is awake half the night.
It gets better, it takes awhile for their little bodies to adjust to a new schedule. I would try to put him down at about 8 pm and maybe read a story with him or some kind of whind down activity and them maybe by 8:15- 8:30 he will be ready to sleep.


Be patient it took my daughter awhile to adjust, but they do
Put him to bed earlier in the evening.
I think he needs more sleep. My son was EXHAUSTED when he started kindergarten. It takes a lot out of them. My son is now six, and he goes to bed at 7pm sharp, and generally wakes up around 7 or 7:30, he needs a full 12 hours of sleep. I'd put your son to bed by 7:30 if he's having meltdowns at the times you mention. Good luck!