What is Your Morning Routine..Need HELP

[My4SunshineGirlsNY]

My daycare boys come at 5:45a.m., they are ages 7 and 3. When they come I have coloring books laid out and turn on cartoons so they are calm as my own girls are still sleeping. I tried laying out a bin of toys when they come but they get too hyper and loud. I have to remind them often to calm down and try to be quiet, even when it's just coloring books and cartoons.

The moment my daughter's wake up (ages 8 and 6), the 7 year old boy feels the need to by hyper....rolls around on the floor, hops like a frog, and makes loud noises. My girls are just waking up so this is a bother to them as they don't want the noises when they first wake up. I remind the boy frequently to settle down but I find myself saying it again a few moments later.

So I was wondering how you all run your morning? I don't want to be a "meanie" and have the kids hate it here because they are constantly being spoke to. But I do need some sort of order in this house and right now I feel I don't have that. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

[cheerfuldom]

ugh....thats so early, I don't know how you do it, especially with an older kid like a 7 year old. I dont have any suggestions just wanted to sympathize

[Zoe]

I would put a mat on the floor and have him choose to either watch tv on the mat, or sleep. That's the choice. That way you don't have to always try to get him to calm down (as long as he's quiet laying down on the mat).

[bgmeyers]

I'd have them lay down for at least an hour. That's really early!

[daycare]

Here's the thing, it's not being mean, it's offering a choice and letting them decide.

I used to have one that arrived at 6am years ago, age 4. He had no choice, he went back to sleep. If he did not fall asleep after 20 minutes, then I put the TV on for him. NO toys, he was too loud playing toys.

If he got crazy while watching the TV, then I would ask him, would you like to watch tv or lay back down on your nap mat? Let them decide. They are old enough to make a decision if they are given choices. IF they chose to be loud, then it is their fault that they are having to lay on their mats, you gave them the consequence and the choice if the chose to not listen to you. This will help them to learn to listen and make good decisions.

As the PP said. That is super early and I would be laying them back down as soon as they arrived. Especially the 3 year old.

[Soccermom]

Wow! That is early! What time do your little ones get up at?

[MizzCheryl]

Could you seperate the boys into different rooms?
maybe one in the kitchen one in the living room. Tell the 7 year old that lil brother needs a nap and as long as he is quiet he can watch tv or something. They will be quieter apart, may even start napping in the am.

[Meyou]

I would put the little one right back to bed and put a mat out for the 7 year old who could watch tv or read until 7am.

[ILMommy]

I'm in the same position as you...the very first call I got for daycare was for a 2 year old needing to start at 5:30. I said yes, because I was trying to avoid going back to work after having my 2nd daughter and get a daycare business going instead. At the time I my baby was 5 weeks old, and I had forgotten what sleep was like anyway, so I though "why not?" Now I regret agreeing to that, because her mom drops her off after a Kool-aid and cookie breakfast, and she's wired! The other morning my husband went to leave for work and found toys thrown out into the garage...they were the loudest toys I have, and she wouldn't leave them be! I did bring them back in later, but removed the batteries. It's hard, because my 4 year old and the other daycare kids are all sleepy, and she's in their faces right away.

[My4SunshineGirlsNY]

Thank you for the suggestions...from now on it's a choice of laying on the mats or watching TV. I guess the moment they get loud off goes the TV and mat time it is. I'm always afraid of the kids not liking it here and losing income BUT if I don't set rules and be firm, I'm in for a ton of stress.

[Jewels]

I would make them lay down until 7am, watching TV quietly, if they make noise off goes the TV, I would not make them lay any longer than 7am though. What time is it that your daughters get up? Can you put your girls down for a little TV when they wake up, and have the boys playing in the playroom? Dont know what your set up is like.

[sahm2three]

My daycare boys come at 5:45a.m., they are ages 7 and 3. When they come I have coloring books laid out and turn on cartoons so they are calm as my own girls are still sleeping. I tried laying out a bin of toys when they come but they get too hyper and loud. I have to remind them often to calm down and try to be quiet, even when it's just coloring books and cartoons.

The moment my daughter's wake up (ages 8 and 6), the 7 year old boy feels the need to by hyper....rolls around on the floor, hops like a frog, and makes loud noises. My girls are just waking up so this is a bother to them as they don't want the noises when they first wake up. I remind the boy frequently to settle down but I find myself saying it again a few moments later.

So I was wondering how you all run your morning? I don't want to be a "meanie" and have the kids hate it here because they are constantly being spoke to. But I do need some sort of order in this house and right now I feel I don't have that. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Ummmmm......that is FAR too early to have them start their day. *I* would have a place for them to lie down and attempt to have them go back to sleep. Sorry. I don't open until 7. I have made an exception here and there for families, and if they had to be there before 6:30, they would go back to bed. Sorry, no real advice!

[nannyde]

They would go directly back to bed to finish their nights sleep. I would seperate them into separate rooms and have them get up around eight or so once you have your older ones out the door for school.

What time are they going to bed and what time do they get picked up?

[wdmmom]

They would go back to bed here. My last arrival is 745am and I serve breakfast around 8am. I would get them up around 8am.

[Soccermom]

Thank you for the suggestions...from now on it's a choice of laying on the mats or watching TV. I guess the moment they get loud off goes the TV and mat time it is. I'm always afraid of the kids not liking it here and losing income BUT if I don't set rules and be firm, I'm in for a ton of stress.

I was the same way when I first started. I was so worried about what the kids thought about me and my home that I would end up completely stressed at the end of the day. I would let everyone walk all over me or get what they wanted in order to keep the peace (and the pay). BUT as I have become more experienced I have come to the realization that no matter what....kids are going to complain about their babysitter. Kids for the most part would rather be at home so if you don't give them something to complain about they will find something to complain about. We are not their friends, we are their caregivers.
I now treat my dcks like I would treat my own kids and if my own kids were jumping all over my house at 6am I would not even think twice about telling them to knock it off.
Plus this dcp found someone who agreed to take her kids @ 5:45am so chances are it would take a lot more than her kids telling her they don't like it at your house for her to term.