How to keep an early riser entertained?

Neyite

facepalm2 wrote: »

Can I ask - has anyone ever considered keeping the early risers in bed a bit later? Groclock, or alarm clock with minute numbers taped over and explaining that there has to be a "7" in the display before it's time to get up?

I'm wrecked from being up at 6 every morning, and although ours is still young, I'm giving it serious consideration for the future...

Yeah, I know a couple who don't put their toddler to bed until 11pm. I was a bit surprised at first when I heard, but its because they work opposite shifts and don't have childcare so, Dad gets home at 3am the child wont get up until 9 so at least he gets 5-6 hours. Mum gets home from work an hour before Dad goes to work, having been up at the crack of dawn.

Depending on the age, a gro-clock would work well if they are able to play quietly in their room until the right time. Depends on the child though.

Tubberadora

My oldest used be up real early from age 1 to 20mths. She then stopped napping during the day and sleeps from 9 to 9 usually.
I used always entertain her by getting her to help me around the house. We used do the wash up prepare the dinner do washing clean the house. They place would be immaculate by 10 every morning. We would then read books and she would play with toys.
Now she is always on the tablet on YouTube. I didn't like this at first but its amazing what they learn from it. She could count to 10 and say the alphabet and recite countless nursery rhymes by 2.

bp

We tried a gro clock for a two and a half year old but was too young for the concept. Will try again in a few months

LegacyUser

Neyite wrote: »

Yeah, I know a couple who don't put their toddler to bed until 11pm. I was a bit surprised at first when I heard, but its because they work opposite shifts and don't have childcare so, Dad gets home at 3am the child wont get up until 9 so at least he gets 5-6 hours. Mum gets home from work an hour before Dad goes to work, having been up at the crack of dawn.

Depending on the age, a gro-clock would work well if they are able to play quietly in their room until the right time. Depends on the child though.

Sorry, I didn't mean keeping them up later at night. I meant they go to bed around 8pm or whatever, as usual, and the clock is set for say 7am and they just understand that it's not morning until then.
Obviously, yes this will depend on the how the parents "enforce" it and the child too. Not putting a toddler to bed til 11pm is a bit unique alright! What will they do when he starts playschool/school???!

Xdancer

bp wrote: »

We tried a gro clock for a two and a half year old but was too young for the concept. Will try again in a few months

My daughter hated the groclock. Even at the lowest setting it was too bright and she couldn't sleep with it on. I passed it on to my sister for her son who just moved to a bed and it's working wonders at keeping in his room.

Neyite

facepalm2 wrote: »

Sorry, I didn't mean keeping them up later at night. I meant they go to bed around 8pm or whatever, as usual, and the clock is set for say 7am and they just understand that it's not morning until then.Obviously, yes this will depend on the how the parents "enforce" it and the child too.

Ah gotcha - I guess a gro clock or similar but it probably is down to reinforcing and reminding them that its still bedtime.

wrote:

Not putting a toddler to bed til 11pm is a bit unique alright! What will they do when he starts playschool/school???!

He's starting his ecce in September. Tbh I think it will give his parents a bit of breathing space that they badly need and give the child more socialisation that he needs and burn off a lot of toddler energy I think. He's a lovely kid but has little opportunity to interact with other children so when he has a play date with my lad he gets over-excited and boisterous about it.

His mum is looking for another job probably with a more normal start time of 8 or 9am and if she finds one that will work perfectly for drop off and maybe be able to stretch to afternoon childcare then. It's hard, they are Eastern Europeans so have no family support network and a very small network of other parents that they know well enough to help them out, and those that they do know, like ourselves, cant offer help - I'd have no problem having her son after play-school for a couple of hours if I was home - the boys would actually entertain themselves but I'm at work full time so that's no good to her.

Neyite

Taliyah Purring Throwback wrote: »

I was looking at some very cute waterproof onesies on muddypuddles.com but the postage is £12STG which is absolutely insane :eek: I ended up ordering a set of these from rainbusters that are on sale at €28.99 with free postage so fingers crossed they do the trick

https://www.rainbusters.ie/product-information/see-all?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=34&category_id=15

Now to find some reasonsbly priced wellies!

I ended up going with puddleducks - though I ordered them from the Irish website so P&P was only €3.95. The set was reduced from €39.99 to 37.99, so in total I paid €41.94. I ordered them yesterday at 11.30 am and they arrived at my office before 9am. Very impressed with the speed of service.

I'm very happy with the quality of the set too - they are lightweight enough for our wet summer and roomy enough to stick a fleece under it in winter, but not flimsy, and well constructed too. Mine were age 3-4 so a bit dearer than the baby sets.

Now to sort a pair of waterproof trousers for me and we'll have no excuse to get outdoors in all weather.

Ant695

Another option if the weather is bad is if there is a local swimming pool you can go to and if they have open swim/family time. Started doing it with my daughter up until she started lessons and she loved it.

bp

Mother care are having a arts and crafts sale - 3 for 2 on paints etc. Got a love painting set yesterday

galah

Swimming is a great idea - but i have yet to find a pool that opens that early. :P (same with most kids' classes and playcenters. Most dont start before 9 or 10).

Problem is also (at least for me :pac:) that i would like to stay in bed and rest before having to face a long day of work, household and kids. and even worse, the toddler wakes the preschooler at 5, even though the poor preschooler would happily sleep until 8 if left in peace.

And then there's the problem ghat everyone needs to be up at 6.30 during the week anyway.

Meh. (You guessed it, i'm wrecked due to lack of sleep and just want to whinge).