Children who are old enough to go to preschool or who have mastered numbers may be ready to begin using a kids' alarm clock. Using an alarm clock can teach kids how to be responsible and independent.
Types of Kids' Alarm Clocks
The kind of alarm clock you and your child choose depends on several factors. Age, wakefulness, and room décor are all reasons to pick a particular type. Cost, too, should be taken into consideration, as a child who chooses a dinosaur clock will probably want a different one as he eases into the pre-teen years.
Clocks for Toddlers
An alarm clock for a toddler is one that should help them understand numbers, time and when to know they can get out of bed. My Tot Clock has been developed to help children learn to tell time and know when to get up. This clock has 10 features including:
- Color coding that can double as a night light
- Relaxing and upbeat music
- Telling bedtime stories
- Both an analog and digital display
- Has a white noise option
- Has parental control options
- Changeable faceplate options depending on your child's interests
This clock has a 4.5-star rating and is available at Amazon as well as Target and sells for about $60.
Novelty and Character Clocks
Kids love clocks that have anything to do with their favorite toys and television characters. Additionally, they also enjoy clocks that have a cool feature, such as projecting the time onto the ceiling. Some popular novelty clocks for kids include:
- Hello Kitty Clock with Night Light: This kitty shaped clock retails for around $25, has an LED light display, and projects the time onto the ceiling.
- Big Red Rooster Alarm Clock: This clock is rated 4.5 stars, costs around $20, and glows red and green to let your little one know when it's okay to get out of bed. It also has a nap timer and hidden parental controls.
Alarm Clocks for Deep Sleepers
As kids get older and move into the pre-teen age, they may have a harder time getting up in the morning. Activities, stress, and staying up too late all contribute to needing an alarm clock that will encourage them to get up in the morning.
- Clocky: This clock comes in seven color options and is great for deep sleepers. This clock has two wheels and jumps off of the side table and spins around in circles. To turn the clock off, your child will have to wake up enough to catch it. Prices range from $40 to $45 depending on the color selected.
- Sinweda Sky Star Night Light: This clock is a great option for deep sleepers and has several handy features. This alarm clock projects stars onto the ceiling, has a light up feature, a thermometer, and plays 10 songs. The volume can be adjusted to help heavy snoozers. This costs around $16.
Teaching Alarm Clock Use
To help ease your child into the transition of getting up on their own, have him or her help you choose an alarm clock. This makes the process fun and exciting, instead of scary. It can be a big change for a child to hear a loud alarm instead of their parent's voice. Helping pick out the alarm clock can alleviate some of those fears.
Becoming Accustomed to the Sound
Get your child used to the alarm noise by having him or her listen to it several times at home. Explain how to turn the alarm off and that he is supposed to get out of bed at that time. Practice the routine you expect your child to do after waking (such as get dressed or use restroom) a few times before putting it into practice in the morning.
Trying Out the Clock
The first day or two of alarm clock use, it may be helpful to slightly wake your child a minute or two before the alarm goes off. This semi-alert state can help your kid get used to the alarm sound and not be frightened of the noise.
You may need to check on your child the first couple of weeks, especially if he/she has a hard time getting up in the morning. Make sure he gets plenty of sleep at night; bedtime may need to be earlier for kids who are late sleepers to ensure their good health. Once a routine has been established, most children are excited to be getting up by themselves.
Alarm Clock Tips
If your child does not know his numbers, has sleep problems, or is simply hard to wake, try these tips:
- Write down the wake-up time on a piece of paper. When the alarm goes off and the numbers on the paper match the clock numbers, your kid can get out of bed.
- Adjust the volume on the alarm.
- Move the clock across the room, so your child has to get out of bed in order to turn it off.
- Try setting two alarm clocks, with five minutes between alarms.
- Set up a sticker behavior chart with a small reward at the end of a successful week to help kids learning to get up on their own.
Finding the Right Alarm Clock For Your Child
Learning to use an alarm clock properly not only fosters a child's sense of independence but will also help youngsters learn numbers and encourage preteens to become responsible for their own actions.
