Page 131 - The Intentional Parent

that is necessary to chase away the night terrors. If they persist for more than a few months, contact your pediatrician.
GETTING OLDER CHILDREN TO BED
My eight-year-old procrastinates over everything, including going to bed at night. His bedtime is nine o'clock, but he usually manages to dawdle around until ten or eleven. He doesn't seem to wake up tired for school the next day, but my husband and I are bushed. How can we get him to go to bed and stay put?
Adults often forget why it was so much fun to stay up "with the grownups" and why it was so lousy having to go to bed. There is actually a crossover point sometime in your late twenties when people really want to go to sleep. Soon after that, people literally beg for sleep. Kids tend to coax themselves into believing that right after they get sent to bed the living room turns into a hockey rink and Mom and Dad have a blast skating around and practicing their slap-shots all night long. Your son doesn't want to go to sleep because he doesn't want to miss anything. We know that the only thing he's missing is watching you drool onto the arm of the couch, but kids have active minds and can be very creative.
One key to getting your elementary-school-aged child to sleep is to stick to your guns about bedtime. If you waver or leave things up for negotiation, you won't get the peace and quiet you are looking for. Consider letting your child entertain himself in his room with nontelevision - related activities before bed. You might be shocked to discover that he may spend some time reading before going to bed. The following incentive program also works
The Intentional Parent by Peter J. Favaro, Ph.D. 131