My son used to do that too when he was 6-7. It was because his medicine was wearing off. (At that time Adderall.) I hope you have considered this-

The bedtime tantrums have been something that have come and gone with my son too. He's 11 now, and finds other ways to 'avoid' bed, but usually it's because he can't sleep and he doesn't want to sit in the dark for hours until he gets tired. I let him read now that he's older. Maybe some soothing music? I wish I had a better suggestion for you.

Thanks for the suggestions and validation that I am not alone. the way I am now trying to deal with it is just to snuggle in bed with him and play with his stuffed animals. Our counselor said, just try to cut down on the amount of time of snuggling until I don't have to do it anymore. I thought about it and it is far better than giving consequence after consequence to no avail, which only escalates negative behavior. Its working out better, although I am tired at the end of the day and rather be watching tv with my wife for an hour. God Bless you and hang in there!

Also, if you want to try my son's doctor reccomended Mellatonin, from 1 to 3 mgs. You can get it at GNC. She said its a naturally occuring substance and it increases toward bed time. She said this would help him go to sleep gradually. My son would not take the pill. You may want to try it.

My son starts his nightly tantrum at 4PM and usually lasts until 6,7,8 or 9 PM. EVERYDAY!!!! I absolutely hate weekends and afterschool. I am already panicking over spring break and summer vacation. I don't know if I can do this everyday!

Sounds like mine too. I have already started looking at summer camps and he has an after school program he can go to everyday until 7 p.m. That was not a good choice because he would come home and still expect to hang out which would push us to 9 p.m. for bedtime.

I usually start my son really early about getting ready for bed. So that by the time bedtime roles around he is "prepped". I have done the classical channel on the radio and then turning it off when I go to bed myself. That seemed to have worked out well.

Tonight he said he was going to read to himself because I only read him a few pages and that wasn't enough for him. I had to remind him that it was getting late and I didn't want him to be late for school. (Which that has been a problem this year because his school picks him up a whole hour earlier than last year. --8a.m. pickup) So I let him read to himself a book he wanted to read.

Ease up a bit, try to fight the battles worth fighting. I don't fight bedtime because I know that he will be the one tired in the morning. I will lay his clothes out tonight for him but usually when we aren't so tight on bedtime, he'll do it himself or even go to bed with his uniform on. (Hey that cuts the morning tardiness.)

We've been going through the exact same thing, and I'm honestly at my wits-end. I'm normally pretty good at staying calm, but bedtime can be a completely different story. My 8 year old actually pointed out to me the biggest problem that he has: we have a list of "Good Choices" and "Bad Choices" on the wall for when he's frustrated or angry, and none of the Good Choices are an option at bedtime. He can't get out energy on the trampoline or give a big, loud scream (not at me), or use his paper shredding station, because he has to stay in bed and try to be quiet. He also is a very fearful kid, so I have to stay in the room with him until he falls asleep or we have much bigger issues, but I just don't know what to do anymore. Last night we tried slowly fading into bedtime- for the first 10 minutes he could talk with me, then for the next 10 minutes he could talk with his stuffed animals, then after that we had to be quiet and try to sleep. But it all broke down after the time of talking with me ended. After an hour of defiance that culminated in him slapping me, I lost it. We both wound up in tears. It all started after his doctor moved all his medication to the mornings and cut back on his evening medication, and since I'm his Foster parent and not his mother, I have no control over his dosage. I just have to take what I'm given.

I started using a point system with my son, who just turned 6, and it has been working amazingly. He's on point and even wants to do the dishes. It may help to have him earn things and in sleeping without issues then he can earn points that he can earn something.