Sleep Clock for Kids

Thanks for testing Sleep Clock for Kids. This is definitely an early beta version of the app, but it has been working well at getting our four-year-old to sleep past 6:30 every morning. Our two-year-old, not so much. Scroll down for download instructions and some tips for getting it set up properly.

Step 1: Make sure your phone can install apps from "Unknown sources"

  • On most phones go to Settings > Security > Unknown Sources > "Allow installation of apps from sources other than the Play Store" The exact wording will vary.
  • If you have one of the newest phones, you may have to apply this setting "after" installing the APK.
  • You can disable this setting after you have installed the app.

Step 2: Launch Chrome on your phone and Close all your tabs

  • There seems to be an Android quirk that will not allow you to download an apk with open tabs. In chrome you should see a box in the top right corner with a number in it. Those are the number of open tabs you have. Tap that box, and close all the tabs.

Step 4: Download the APK ON YOUR PHONE

So far this is Android only.

Step 5: Tap through all the warnings

I promise this isn't a virus getting installed on your phone. You will eventually get to the point where the app will install and you will have the option to open the app.

Step 6: position the phone in view

  • You're going to want to keep this phone on a charger and visible to your child.
  • A phone stand or some double sided mounting tape works well

Step 7: kid sleep = good, phone sleep = bad

  • If your phone display sleeps, your child won't be able to tell if it's time to stay in bed.
  • To prevent your screen from sleeping you need to go into developer mode. Phones have different methods of accessing developer mode, so you may want to search [phone model] developer settings
  • On my phone it is Settings > System > About phone > Build number > [tap 8 times]
  • Then go to Developer options in the settings and enable "stay awake"

Step 8: Launch the app and set sleep and wake-up times

  • tap on settings to enter the times. The times you set will display in 24 hour time on the buttons after they're set.

Step 9: REcord a Wake-up message

  • Hold the record button to record your custom wake-up message. Release the button when you're done.
  • Tap "play" to review the message.
  • For now, if you decide you don't want a wake-up message, you can just tap and release to record a second of nothing.

Step 10: empower your child

  • Let her know that she has a great new clock that will give them the power to know when to sleep and when to wake up.
  • Blue means sleep time, and yellow means wake-up time.

tips

  • Stick to the plan. From what I've learned, it's better to start with an earlier wake-up time than to bend the rules on letting her get up before the clock turns yellow.
  • The first few days were a little tough for us, and we're still tweaking the experience for the 2-year-old with an earlier wake-up time.
  • Celebrate each little success.

feedback

  • Please give me some feedback. I love to hear about features that might be useful. I have a full time day job, so I won't be able to add all of them, but I'd love to learn from you.