Many mornings start with a parent calling up the stairs, again and again. A child's own alarm clock can change that. The clock does the work of saying that it is time, and the child learns to respond to it. Mornings become a shared plan rather than a series of instructions, and the tone in the house is often gentler as a result.
Choose a clock together. It should be simple, with a sound that is not too sharp and buttons that a child can manage. Let your child look at the options and pick the one they like best. When they have chosen it themselves, they are more likely to take pride in it. Put it in a fixed place, within reach of the bed but not so close that it can be silenced in a half-sleep.
Setting it up in the evening
The evening is the time to prepare. Sit down together and set the clock as part of the bedtime routine. Talk about what happens in the morning: get up, wash, dress, breakfast. A picture strip on the wall showing the steps can help younger children remember. The more familiar the sequence, the less you need to say, and the more the child feels in charge of their own morning.
Some children like a lamp as well as a sound. A small bedside light that comes on gently can help them wake up, especially on dark winter mornings. Let them switch it on themselves. After the alarm, give them a little time to get going before you step in. A friendly good morning at the door is enough at first, and you can let the routine settle at its own pace.
Do not be discouraged if it does not work at once. Some mornings the clock will ring and nothing will happen. Just knock, say good morning, and remind them of the plan. Praise what goes well, such as getting up at the first ring or choosing clothes, and leave the rest. Over time the clock becomes a quiet part of the morning, and you may find yourself calling up the stairs less and less.
