Bedtime bad behaviour

I agree with SueDonim and others, that is far too early for bedtime. I think you need to negotiate with the parents about setting up a more realistic night time routine. They should be taking the lead in this.

I’ve got my 7 and 6 yr old GC staying with me for a few days. Their normal bedtime at home on a school night is 7pm. I stretch that to 7.45-8pm at mine while no school.

I think you’d find it easier to settle them with a later bedtime. Do they sleep through the night when they eventually settle? It seems a long stretch from 4pm dinner till morning. I think hunger would waken my GC very early if they hadn’t eaten since 4.

That's really early to bed. They should probably go to bed around 8,so get ready at 7.

If the parents insist they go to bed that early, just make sure the kids have entertainment (books or teddies) so they can stay in their room and fall asleep on their own.

When mine sleep over, one goes to bed quite easily, the other doesn't. I think it is more their nature, but they need to understand when it is time to go to bed, they need to stay in their rooms. My little G-daughter will talk and sing to her dollies for over an hour before she settles. She is 5 now. Her older brother 7 will sleep almost right away after he lays down.

I’d suggest as someone else has, an evening walk after tea. A bath every evening at those ages really isn’t necessary and can often make them more awake than winding them down. Then each of you in a different bedroom to do bedtime story and sit whilst they fall asleep. It shouldn’t take so long with a more reasonable bedtime.

Oh dear, GrandmaKT! It is a very early time, especially at this time of year when it’s still so light in the evenings.

I’d definitely tell their parents that unless they have a better bedtime routine you can’t take them overnight.

Sorry, thought they were at yours hence my bedroom comment.

Goodness me! No wonder they’re playing up. That’s way too early! Also, do they have to be in separate rooms?

The parents seem to have left you with a bit of a problem by putting children of this age to bed late afternoon no wonder they play up
My grandaughter is 3 and has a 7 o'clock bed time
I would put them to bed at 7.30 with a short story non negotiable that they then settle for sleep

'Ragged'

Sounds like they're running you tagged.. A walk before bedtime, then bath sounds in order and a later bedtime while they are staying with you perhaps. Don't negotiate. It's hard when you've got them all day then have to deal with bedtime antics!

Wow that’s early! My GCs are 2and 4 and they go to bed at 7. TV from 5.30 to 6.30. (CBeebies is lovely at that time) Bath at 6.30, story and bed. We don’t have many problems. That doesn’t help you of course. I have no solutions unfortunately but I do sympathise. Hope you get it sorted.

That would be water off a duck's back SueDonim, they just wouldn't believe it!

Maybe tell the children they won’t stay again unless they behave!

Those times do seem rather early for a 5 and 7 year old. Our 5 year old grandson has his bath at 7 when he is with us, ready for bed at 7.30 with bedtime story and he drops off pretty quickly. Our 9 year old GD is about at hour later, and usually has a book to take to bed to read herself and, again, she is usually asleep when we look in on her about 20 minutes later. Perhaps they are just not ready for sleep at that early time...........