Bed Time for kids?

Jennifer - posted on 08/17/2009

I have 2 school age children. One started middle school and the other is in 5th grade. they both go to bed at 9:30, but sometimes opt for earlier if they are exausted from all their activities. We just moved to 9:30 last year.

Samantha - posted on 08/16/2009

mine usually crashes around 7-7.30 pm but i try not to let go later than 8.30pm

Michelle - posted on 08/16/2009

My children range between 5 and beginning kindergarten and 9 going into 3rd grade. My 5 year old and 7 year old go to bed at 9 and my 9 year old stays up until 9:30 unless she gets hard to get up in the morning which means she goes to bed at 9 with the other two.

Where we live they do not start school until 9 am and the bus doesn't pick them up until 8:30 and they get breakfast at school so they can sleep until 7:30. If we lived somewhere that they had to catch the bus closer to 7 or 7:30 they would be in bed by 8/8:30.

I hope our comments help you make an informed decision.

Vicki - posted on 08/16/2009

Hi Mandy, I would consider there ages then try different times. If you see they are difficult or more difficult to wake up in the morning then you know they should go to bed earlier. M sons are 15yrs in high school and 9yrs in 4th grade my 15yr old goes to bed at 11 and my 9yr old goes to bed at 9pm, but there are still times I have to send them bth to bed early because they gave me problems when waking them up.. For the most part they get up 7 am with out trouble.. As far as you kids go I would send the little one to bed at 8 and the middle school at 9. Good luck hope all turns out for the best for you.

Erin - posted on 08/16/2009

I put son to bed around 8:00, he is 5 and all he does is talk to himself... sometimes until 10:00 or later... so frustrating

Suzanne - posted on 08/16/2009

Hi I have 2 daughters and Kayla is 7. they both go to bed at 08:00pm. The rule is that they aer in Bed at that time but and as long as they are sleeping by 8:30pm that's fine. They are used to this and find the quite time to relax and sleep well. Every child is different though and needs a different amount of sleep.

Christine - posted on 08/15/2009

i have a 8 th grader and an 6th grader at 8 i have them brush their teeth and then they can read tell 9.

Emily - posted on 08/15/2009

I have a 10yr old 5th grader and she goes to bed at 8:30pm. My 5yr old kindergartner goes to bed around 7:30- 8:00pm. A study I read somewhere said that kids, even older ones, need at least 10 hours of sleep to function better in school.

Carisa - posted on 08/15/2009

My 2nd & 4th graders will have quiet reading at 7:30p and bed at 8pm. For a middle schooler I would only go as late as quiet reading at 8:30p and bed at 9p. But it really has more to do with what time school is. My kids do not have to get up until 8am for school at 9am.

Kim - posted on 08/15/2009

I have a 9th grader, a 2nd grader, and one in kindergarten. All of them have to be in bed by 8:30. We start getting ready for bed at 8:00 (pj's on, teeth brushed, clothes for the next day put out) and I let my 9th grader read with a lamp until 9:00 then it's lights out. No talking on the phone after 8:00. Hope that helps you some.

Becky - posted on 08/15/2009

For my 3rd & 4th graders lights out at 8pm and my 4 year old 7:30.

Camilla - posted on 08/15/2009

My son is (soon) 5. We put him to bed by 7.30. He loves to take a bath so we start that "procedure" at 7, and we try to have him in bed half an hour later. After a story or two, he's asleep by 8 - 8.30, most nights anyway. After we've read him a story we kiss him goodnight and go out from his room. He likes to listen to a cd-story after our story and almost always falls asleep during that. In the morning he needs to be up by 6.30 at the latest.

Deena - posted on 08/15/2009

When my kids were around the ages of the Pre-K, their bed times were around 7:00 or 7:30. My daughter who is now 14 goes at 9:00 but is allowed to watch TV in her room until 10:00. However, we are home schoolers and our school day starts at 8:00, so that makes a difference too. If she were in a formal school and had to be out the door to a bus or school, I'd probably make her go at 8:00 and allow tv until 9:00. (Not all kids can be trusted with the hour TV...my son couldn't be.)

Amanda - posted on 08/15/2009

I have four kids, ages 9,8,4,2. I put them to bed at 8 pm year round. On occasions they are allowed to stay up later, but we have found that the attitudes are better with this much sleep and we do not have to fight about getting them bed early for the school year.

Laura - posted on 08/14/2009

My son is going into grade 2 and 8:00pm will be his bedtime. His school is very close, across the street and down the hill half a block. He will need his rest. I get him to put out his clothes before bed for school, and he can help me make his lunch if he wishes.

Mary - posted on 08/14/2009

i have 2 school age children grades 3rd and 4th. they know on school nights it's lights out at 8pm. they have to get up early for school and i find when they get in bed at this time, they are not falling asleep during school and more focused.

Belle - posted on 08/14/2009

I usually start sending my kids to bed at 7:45pm. Reasons: There bed time is 8pm, but they still have to brush their teeth, say goodnight to everyone and get into bed. They are usually asleep by 8:30pm. They are up by 6:05am to get ready and be out the door for the bus.

Delta - posted on 08/14/2009

My daughter will be starting the 4th grade this year and since 1st grade we sent her to bed at 7pm cause she was not behaving, and found out she was doing better in school. So we kept her going to bed at 7pm and she gets up around 6:15am to eat breakfast and get ready for school. Before she was going to bed around 8/8:30 and getting up around 7.

Ramona - posted on 08/14/2009

My daughter is 4 years old and going to Pre-K also so on school nights she goes to bed at 8:30 p.m. Sometimes she goes to sleep earlier depending on how active her day has been.