Getting My 4Yr to Go to Sleep

Do you mean you have cable TV in his room? TV in a child's room (even a teenager's) isn't a very good idea. I know that if I watch TV right before bed, the fast edits and flashing pictures that are so common in today's shows often stimulate me and make it hard to fall asleep. Excessive TV viewing can contribute to poor grades, sleep problems, behavior problems, obesity, and risky behavior. See: http://www.med.umich.edu/1libr/yourchild/tv.htm and http://www.wholefamily.com/aboutyourkids/child/television....

Try reading a good book together at bed time. If he's still napping in the afternoon, it might be time to shorten those or get rid of the naps too, to make bedtime easier. Hope this helps.

Remove the tv from his room. Kids with tv's in their rooms sleep much worse and stay up way later then kids who don't. Honestly your are doing your children a great disservice by having tv's in their rooms.

with my 4 year old I just put my foot down and made a bedtime for him and no tv....I actually announced it 3 or 4 times before hand so there was no argument.....but the TV for us has to be off....I give no choice in this cause one nighht he will fall asleep with it on another night he would watch it for ever.....

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I too have a four year old son. He has a TV in his room as well (Christmas present). Sometimes he gives me a hard time falling asleep even if he is tired. I agree that if he is napping for a long time during the day maybe you should wean him off that. He still probably needs some quiet time mid day though. I let my son watch his TV to wind down before bed. I know all the current research says that is a terrible idea. I do it anyway. My theory is that I can put him to bed the same time as my two year old and just let him stay up watching TV in his room for half an hour (then I can get some of my housework done). He feels like he is getting a big treat and I get my work done and my two year old is none the wiser. BUT, if he doesn't go to sleep after the TV turns of then the TV gets taken away. I'm probably breaking every rule of parenting but it works for me. I run a home based business too (we have a lot in common K.!). I sell lia sophia jewerly. So I need time at night to get that work done too.
So I guess I haven't given you any great advice (except having the TV turn off after half an hour). But maybe it helps knowing you are not the only one.
Oh, and he doesn't have cable TV he only has a DVD so he can only watch watch what I put in.

TV is too stimulating and should not be watched before bed time, a 4 year old should be limited to 2 hours a day at most...preferable as little as possible. Try reading a story or stories or get a chapter book and read a chapter every night. He may not totally get the story line, but if there is adventure or suspense it will keep his attention, all the while building language skills and valuable parent child time. I think the TV should definately go.

PS My daughter is eleven and has never had a TV in her room, and doubt she will any time soon. She reads for
1 hour every night before she goes to sleep.
Good luck in whatever you decide.

If he is watching TV alot it could have something to do with it. His mind is racing and he may be having trouble settleing down from the day. What we started to do was watch maybe one show after my daughters (2yr & 4 yr old) bath, then (after my 2 yr old goes to bed at 8pm) we either play a game, color, draw or something constructive. We had the same problem...we had gotten rid of cable all together when I went back to work last year because no one was home to watch it. ANd for the kids they were happy with videos. Also I liked that because I could monitor what they were watching. But then my father in law moved in with us and we got cable back and we had some long nights for a while after that. Then I read somewhere that its not good for kids to watch tv right before bed as it keeps there minds racing and they don't have a chance to unwind. Also they will be thinking about what ever the last thing they saw was and if that is TV then....well you get it. Anyway, I'm not saying I'm right but it might be one reason. another thing you might want to think about is if he is having anything with sugar before bed. Even fruit will give him that energy or sugar high. Well good luck.

Hi
I know my 3 year old is a night owl and if he is in front of the TV he won't go to sleep. He likes to fall asleep in my bed but I try to avoid it. I put him in his bed kicking and screaming with music on. He falls asleep eventually.

I am not sure from your message if you are leaving the TV on. If you are you should maybe try setting a time when the TV will definately go off.. Maybe allow him 20-30 mins to lay in bed and watch a show and then its lights off....

I know its tough....and its even tougher when your kids won't go to sleep!!!

Good Luck
Linda
wah4yourfamily.com

Your 4 year old has a TV in his bedroom? And he has cable? Not good. Get the TV out and introduce him to some good children's books. Children should NEVER have TV's in their rooms. I am afraid that the TV is your problem. 100% positive. Bedtime for a 4 year old should be 7:00.

A.

unfortunatly the only advice is tough love. I have 3 kids ages 5,7,8 and when they don't want to go to bed to bad. TV's go off and lights out. if you show me the next night that you can go to bed at a decent hour then the TV privlages come back. now i'm not saying it always works but if you stick with it he will see that you are not joking. i know it's hard but your kids are not always going to like you. They may even tell you how much they hate you but just look and them and say "well i still love you". After you get over the 4 and 5 yr old hump and they start school full time you will find it easier to get a routine down pat, until then good luck!

I recommend Elizabeth Pantley's book "The No Cry Sleep Solution for Toddlers and Preschoolers." She strongly advocates creating a consistent bedtime routine and consistent bedtime. Also, if he's napping too long during the day, that could be affecting his readiness to sleep at night time. Regarding TV, I've also heard that it is too stimulating and not a good idea to create a habit of TV watching to aid falling asleep. My kids need total darkness and quiet (and me nearby in the room) to finally tune out the wonderful wakeful world and focus on falling asleep. Good luck.