...and counting, I pray! So, I read a new parenting trick in a magazine. See, we have this problem keeping Brice in bed. When we are at home we can put him in his bed (the top bunk of a bunk bed) and take away the ladder. While that does keep him in bed, it doesn't keep him from yelling at the top of his lungs repeatedly for 30 minutes, at least. When we are not at home we end up laying next to him and literally holding him in bed until he is asleep...nightmare.
I hate, hate, hate bedtime! Until 4 days ago... The suggestion was to put a certain number of papers (we use 3 post-it notes) on the door, wall, etc. Each time I have to go into his room (IE to put him back in bed) I take away a paper. If he has at least one paper left in the morning he gets a "special treat" (which happened to be great-grandma Jenkins fudge). I remind him each time, "if I have to come in again, I will take a paper away...you only have one left, you won't get a special treat in the morning if I come in again." It actually works! He always uses his first two chances, not usually for anything worthwhile (sometimes he just walks out of his room, straight to me and hands me the paper. I then pick him up and put him straight back in bed). After the second paper is used up, he usually asks to be "covered up" and then I don't hear from him again. Who knew it could be this easy?!?!
Of course, I have probably jinxed it now...
2 comments:
Good luck with this, I hope it keeps working! I have been pretty lucky that my boys have usually been really great at bedtime. I feel blessed. The kids are adorable. It's fun to keep up with your family, it has been way too long!
Great idea! I have had stuggles with my boys & bedtime too. We will try this.
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