Bedtimes....and ADHD

This time of year is when parents start to wonder "What is a good time for my son/daughter to go to sleep?" Every one has a different answer...some study...some doctor's opinion...some something that they look to. 

And that's fine. That's what parents are to do...figure things out follow what they think they should do...what works for their kids.

I just wanted to let you in on a little nugget that I wasn't aware of at first, but later learned about and it has helped tremendously. Maybe I can help you...help your ADHD child.

Children with ADHD do not follow "the norm." That's normal. They have a chemical imbalance that makes their norm different. My favorite quote is "Normal is just a setting on a dryer" which is even more so with ADHD children.

What does this have to do with bedtimes? Ready?.....Children with ADHD have a "window" for sleep. If they go too early from their "window," they will be up all night. If they go too late from their "window," they will be up all night. It doesn't matter what time they have to get up in the morning....you have to find that "window." It's something that you have to figure out with them.

So here's what is suggested for my kids: D (6yrs old) 8pm; T (9yrs old) 8:45pm; M (14yr old) 10pm; R (17yr old) 10:30pm. Now overall...it doesn't sound too bad. I remember being up all times of the night. I am a night owl. A BIG one! However, this doesn't work for my ADHD kids. Now 3 of the 4 have been diagnosed (T,M,R). We've been thru a lot to figure out their "windows." Especially since we didn't know this to begin with. We found out when M was about 7...2 yrs after he was diagnosed.

All four go TO bed at 8pm. School or summer. D and T turn off their light at 8:30. Some nights they are right to sleep...others it may be another 20-30 mins. If we did put them to bed and turn of lights earlier OR later, they would be up pretty much all night. I know...from experience. Especially when the power went out....and we didn't get it back on until 3:05am...D and T didn't fall asleep until 2:10am. M and R turn off lights around 8:45-9pm. And pretty much go right to sleep.

Each child has their own "window"...but a lot of parents of ADHD children don't even know this. So they are frustrated with kids being up and can't figure it out.

Hope this can help.