7am – So Henry has woken the last two mornings at 7am. This is new.
Prior to this he would wake at (we think) 6am. Henry had slept pretty well for years. In January (4th) this year Henry started waking up in the night for 3/4 hours a night. Since then he has had some good nights and others with multiple wake ups, some short and some hours awake before back to sleep.
When he wakes he comes in to me. Initially I allowed him into bed but more recently I’ve realised that isn’t good so I’ve been taking him back and getting into his bed with him until he falls asleep then creeping out. Needless to say it’s not been good for my sleep or John’s and I’ve pretty much migrated to the spare room, John at least then gets a night’s sleep.
7am – Average school day, up with the sun (we have a grow clock that ‘wakes up’ at 7am. The idea being that it you’re up before the sun then you’re to play in your room.
Then breakfast, get dressed, teeth etc.
7.50-8am – Leave for school 7.50-8am although we’re often late. School starts 8.25am. The nursery is attached to the school so it’s one drop off/pick up.
Behaviour at school – Henry is often well behaved at breakfast and going to school. As soon as we arrive at school everything changes and he becomes a bit ‘silly’. He will race around the grounds shouting and charging around. He won’t walk next to me and I often have to dash off after him. I drop Georgiana first as she has to be there by 8.25am and then drop Henry on the other side of the school. Cue more running off and me chasing him. He doesn’t listen to me when I ask him to wait or stop.
Once I’ve managed to get him to the door of the nursery (he is the last one in every day!) he is supposed to shake the teacher’s hand and say good morning. He’s to put his bag and coat away, pop his water bottle on the tray and put his stone into the basket (self registration) before washing his hands.
Instead Henry will throw his bag through the door, refuse to shake hands and then charge through the door. There’s no running allowed inside which Henry ignores. He split his forehead open running inside in October at Nursery and falling into the corner of the wall. The general complaint from school is that he doesn’t want to do what the group is doing (eg. he won’t put shoes or coat on, runs off to forest school instead of walking with the group), much like home it is hard to get him to do the things that he needs to do.
Days at school involve a lot of child initiated learning. Henry is happiest when he is outside in the garden or at forest school. He loves a job to help him focus and also loves reading books (well having them read to him).
Each day at school there is an activity eg. today they had a swimming lesson, other days there is sports or Spanish etc.
3.15pm – I collect the children at 3.15. I collect Georgiana first then we go to collect Henry. He’s one of the last to be collected as a result. I do it this way to reduce the time he has to run around the grounds and chasing him in front of all the other parents, etc.
In the car they have a snack. The last two days Henry hasn’t seemed tired on the way home. Usually, he’s struggling to stay awake and often he falls asleep.
4pm – We arrive home at 4pm. Henry would like nothing more than to play in the garden and ride his bike but after a full day of activity I prefer him to have some down time playing in the playroom or watching TV.
5.30pm – 6 pm We eat at about 5.30/6pm and try to eat as a family. When we’ve finished it is bath time. They have a bath every night without fail. Once out of the bath a little playtime whist getting ready for bed. Then daddy reads a story.
7pm – We aim for lights out at 7pm. Tonight lights were out at 7.10pm and he was asleep by 7.30pm.
He is a restless sleeper. Every time I look at him on the camera he is in a different position. He often sleeps on the top of the covers. He has hay fever and is currently having 2.5ml of piriton at night. He is seeing an ENT as he has enlarged adenoids. They are considering taking them out.
Eating – eating wise Henry eats very well. He has a healthy appetite and is very happy to try new things. He eats a variety of foods, and drinks water and milk. More recently we’ve been giving them some Innocent juices now and again.
At the weekend we fill our days with time at the house. In the garden, going for walks, visiting friends’ gardens etc.
Routine – We moved house in September and the children started at the new school at the same time. There’s certainly been a lot of changes but for the first 3 months here there was no change to the bedtime routine.
Since January it’s pot luck what kind of a night we have. This Sunday just gone, Henry woke at 2.30am and was awake until 5am. I then woke him at 8am and he was in a lovely refreshed mood, but poor Georgiana was late for school and had to walk into assembly late.
We’ve tried to cut back the amount of TV and changed what they do watch to cbbies rather than Disney and other American programs. He often shouts and he seems to get frustrated that he’s not being listened to or space to say what he wants to say. I’m trying to listen more.
