Bells will be ringing as students adjust to early-morning classes as schools come back into session. Tulsa World photo
In preparing for school starting in the Tulsa Public district Monday, my kids are fighting my early-morning wake-up preparation program.
This is a ritual started by mom years ago to train me and my sister to get up on time. She started two weeks before the first day of school, scaling back our biological clocks in 15-minute increments.
The goal was for us to be used to getting up early, rather than a shock to the system on the first day.
The TPS elementary last bell rings at 7:45 a.m., and they are expected to be in their classrooms - not scrambling at their lockers.
My kids are naturally getting up at 10 a.m. So, I’m clearly not as effective as my mother in this area.
According to
WebMD , students need more sleep than we usually think they need. And definitely more than they think they need.
For elementary, it is recommended that students get between 10 and 12 hours each night and that teenagers get at least eight to nine hours. Some research is showing teenagers need more like nine to 10 hours, and they clearly love sleeping in late.
In order to get to school, we have a drive of about 20 minutes. But, with Tulsa construction, that has added sometimes an additional 10 minutes to the drive when taking alternative routes.
I’m in crunch mode now, worried their sleep patterns will be dreadful the first week. My kids are no different from others, prolonging bedtime and negotiating for more time.
Taking a few tips from experts, here are a few things we are doing now:
*No television or computer after dinner
*No snacking after dinner
*Baths or showers to help encourage a “calm down” mode
*Low lighting in the evening
*Setting a maximum number of books to read
*They lose privileges if they leave their bed after lights out, except for the bathroom
One person suggested a keep a sleep journal for my kids to see how much they are actually getting, not just judging by when the bedroom door is shut. I haven't gotten around to that, but it's a pretty good idea.
Sometimes, this isn’t enough, so please add any other tips for us expected parents gearing up for this nightly battle.
