4and a half year issues!

[mum2twogirls0507]

Hi

I am a mum to a 4 and a half year old girl and a 2 yr old girl.
My dd1 has started prep this year and doing really well.

The issue I have which is what we have always had is that she is a ball of energy and on the go from the time she gets up to the time she goes to bed.
She seems to have no wind down time at all.
After dinner they both have a bath and its then generally quiet time where they read books together or we read books. There is no tv no nothing..
My dd1 generally crashes when she goes to bed with the exception of when maybe she is soo tired she just plays up with (I want a drink, I want the toilet etc etc)

This child is cleary very very tired each day now she is at school and more so on weekends now too as she doesn't seem to stop..
She has been soo tired this weekend that she has permanant darkness under her eyes..
She gets up on the dot of 6.30am every morning and she is in bed of an evening by 7-7.3opm.
Does anyone have a child like this or have any suggestions in winding her down to relax.. ???

Its almost if she gives in and relaxes a little she is admitting defeat or something... I have found the only time she is in a relaxed state is when she is watching a kids movie on tv.. now she is at school this almost has not happened even on weekends really..

Help

[JabberJaw]

My kids were the same when they started. We had to put them down to a 6.30 bed time instead. Both of them still have it now one is in grade one and the other grade 2.

I let my kids have a snack and watch tv for a bit when they get home, then the play before dinner,bath, a little more tv when they have dessert, teeth,book and bed.

Its tough, but they get use to it. Could you set bedtime a bit earlier? Just so she gets an extra half hour or so of sleep?

[OJandMe]

My twins are like this.

Always on the go, no down time, just constantly active.

Up at 5-5:30am and then they DO NOT STOP till bedtime (7-7:30pm).

Now they're at Prep they are still go go go go... I've found that they can generally keep it together, but then their behaviour goes to hell on the weekend.

I've just tried introducing quiter games at points during the day... puzzles, painting, bubble blowing.

I think it's just a transition period that they'll have to work with. (I'm hoping they'll start sleeping later!!!)

Maybe try starting the bedtime routine a little earlier, this might help her to settle easier and get that little bit extra sleep.

[JJAZ]

We have the same problem here, DD1 is 4!!! She just doesnt stop!!! And we have daylight savings here so she finds it hard to go to bed when it is still daylight (associates sleep with dark) So it is really hard to wind her down!!!

I will watching this thread as i need HELP to!!!

[crazymuma]

I agree maybe try and pull back betime a little.
Also the quiet games/activities are a good idea.

If watching a movie does relax her then maybe you should plan for that to happen on the weekends so that she is at least getting some down time.

Sunday is quiet day in my house - we will usually go to the beach for a couple hours but the rest of the day is spent relaxing - reading books, playing in the sandpit/garden, painting, movies etc.