Time for bed?

[misterL]

My two young kids try as hard as they can to stay up late. I insist that they are in bed by 8 pm on a week night and 10 Saturday, 8 Sunday (ready for school). They have both got tvs in their rooms and all the latest gaming gadgets. Am I being too strict? Surely 8 is late enough for under 10s? They normally get up around 6.30 am the next day.

[Psychick]

My 7 year old has a bedtime of 8-8:30 pm. If she wants to go any earlier, she just asks and she goes. She is often up til 9pm on a Friday and Saturday night but its only ever later it if for a special reason. At the moment, she doesnt have any tv/gamines concoles in her room but does love to read for a little while at bedtimes. I have tried getting her to bed earlier but then shes up at 5-6am!

I dont think youre being strict at all and if the routine is suiting you and your children, keep to it :)

[taichiperson]

Personally I think under ten is far too young to have their own TVs and games. It's good for them to have thier own space, but it can be hard for them to make a distinction between daytime and nighttime. My boys knew when they went to their room it was time to sleep, and it does help to establish a good sleep pattern for the future. Do you make sure they aren't watching TV or playing games when they go to bed? It does depend on the individual child as to how much sleep they need - if they are not overtired or cranky during the day they should be fine. My older boy always needed more sleep than his brother.

[meltoadhall]

my 8 yr old goes to bed at 7.30, 11 yr old at 8.30 and 13 yr old at 9.30.
no tv's in any bedrooms or game machines - you are not at all strict.

we have limited tv to 2 hours over the whole day and the youngest has storytime before bed.
they all know when bedtime is and have been taught over the years to obey us.

that doesnt mean I have perfect children (I wish) andwhen they beg for extra time I occasionally relent but for most you have to firm.

[McNoodle]

My seven year old is in bed at 8pm on school nights on the promise he can stay up as long as he wants at the weekend. Despite his big talk, he's invariably asleep by 9pm Friday and Saturday!

[misterL]

Thanks a lot for your answers. We usually take turns to check that their tv is off and they are in fact sleeping, so no worries on that front. We were discussing this with mates recently, their kids are younger than ours and they are allowed to stay up til 9.30.

[Psychick]

Hi misterL, how old are you children exactly, and your mates children?

If theyre up that late on a school night, it may start to tell on their schoolwork, behaviour etc if they start getting over tired. However, some children really dont need much sleep at all and could easily go to bed late every night and still be as bright as a button and full of energy during the day. It cant leave much time in the evening for your mates to relax in peace though?