Originally Posted By stagemomx3 When the kids were younger they had earlier bedtimes. They are almost 11, 9, and 8 now and with sports practices running Monday-Friday we don't get home until after 8pm most nights, and then we eat dinner together. They are usually in bed around 10pm. Most of the time they wake up on their own between 7am and 8am.
Originally Posted By 4Disnee Our DS is 10 and his bed time used to be 7:30 when he was 7 & 8 but now that he is older we usually like to have him showered and ready for bed by 8 and then sometimes he can stay up until 8:30 on school nights. He needs his sleep or he gets grumpy or maybe that is me that is grumpy. LOL
Originally Posted By MomofPrincess Yes, we're firm believers in schedules, even though our kids are older (7 & 11). They go to bed between 8-8:30 even on weekends. Very rarely, they'll be allowed to stay up later if there are extenuating circumstances (at a friend's house, people over, on vacation, at Disneyland), but it's sure not a regular occurance. Most nights by 8:15, if they're not in bed, they're finding me so I can tuck them in. They seem to need that sleep. On the same token, my kids are very consistently very well behaved, easy to get up in the morning, never have homework battles, etc. I do have to wonder if their getting plenty of sleep has something to do with this. Seems like my friends who have kids who fight them on everything are also the ones who are allowed to fall asleep "whenever they're tired" or in front of the t.v. at a late hour or what have you. And yes, I had a set bedtime growing up. I want to say it was 8-9pm in elementary school and a little later (10ish) as a teen.
Originally Posted By MomofPrincess ^Also, let me add that my 11yo son needs to be up by 5:45 am so he can eat, get dressed, and be at his bus stop by 6:30am. School starts at 7:15. I envy those of you who have kids who have the luxury of sleeping til 7 or 8!
Originally Posted By stagemomx3 "I envy those of you who have kids who have the luxury of sleeping til 7 or 8!" One of the perks of homeschooling.
Originally Posted By MomofPrincess I have a few online friends, though, whose kids don't start (public) school til 8-8:30. How I wish mine did! It's tough getting my son out of the house when it's still dark outside.
Originally Posted By avromark My children don't have a set bed time, nor do I at this time in my life.
Originally Posted By momof4boys We try to get my 8 year old in bed by 8:30. The 10 and 11 year olds are in bed by 9:30, hopefully. The 14 y.o. goes to bed around 10:00 pm- when he is home and not at an away football game- but he has trouble falling asleep before 10:30pm or 11:00 pm. None of them watch TV when they go to bed. Sometimes they listen to calm music. When the oldest is laying in bed is a special time for us. The brothers are all asleep, I go in and with the room all dark he opens up and talks about everything- girls, school, football, worries, dreams, etc. I rub his back while he talks to help him relax. We stay up much later on Friday nights if we can sleep in on Saturday. We still try and get to bed at a decent time on Sat. since we have church in the morning. My kids are in public school but we don't have to leave the house until 8:00am- we could even get by with leaving at 8:10. We get everything we can ready the night before so the boys don't have to get up until 7:15 am.
Originally Posted By Goofyernmost I don't remember if I had a specific bedtime as a child or not. I suspect I must have but I don't remember. My own kids, I had two girls, two years apart, had a set bedtime that changed every two years. When the oldest started school her bedtime was 8PM. Her sister was at 7:30. When she got to third grade it changed to 8:30 and her sister at 8 and so on until they reached high school and then it stopped but they usually went to bed by 10 anyway because by then they were used to the extra sleep and did it on their own. Both were exceptional students and I think part of that was because they went to school rested. I see too many kids today looking like the cat dragged them home. They have circles under their eyes and just look tired. I don't think their parents did them any favors by letting them determine their own bedtimes. I always thought it was the parents job to know what was best for their children. The kids aren't born knowing what is best, they have to be taught. So many parents are way more concerned about being their child's buddy instead of their child's parent, caretaker and teacher. JMHO!
Originally Posted By mele I don't think it's just late bedtimes that make today's kids so tired. Most kids are busier than ever by being pushed to excel at school, sports, clubs, etc.
Originally Posted By Autopia Deb >>>I don't think it's just late bedtimes that make today's kids so tired. Most kids are busier than ever by being pushed to excel at school, sports, clubs, etc.<<< That's why I limit my kid to one sport at a time, except for a short period at the end of basketball when baseball practices start. When he was taking karate lessons I wouldn't sign him up for any other sports, there wouldn't have been time for homework or fun. As to the 3 year old with no bed time... When my boy was 3 he didn't either, I was home with him and didn't have to get up for work or school so he kept my late night schedule and I don't think it hurt him in the least. Of course that did make for a bigger adjustment when we both had to be out of the house in the mornings ;D.
Originally Posted By DAR I don't have any kids,but my friends and other relatives usually put their kids to bed between 7 and 8:30. It depends on the age of the kids. Some of the older kids(8 or 9) can stay up past 8:30 but they have to be in bed and relaxed for the night.
Originally Posted By LuLu I probably have the oldest kid mentioned here, 16 y o. Most have mentioned they don't or didn't have a set bedtime for teens, but let's say I "strongly suggest" she's in bed by 9 on school nights. Crazy huh? Well, she gets up at 5:50, has classes from 7a-1:45p, works from 2-5p, and somtimes is barely done homework by 9! Some days she leaves work early to join her friends on school booster projects, and once a week she has voice lesson after work. HER choice to work, she loves that money coming in!, but sometimes I "strongly suggest" that she may need to quit if she's not getting enough sleep. She manages her time well and since I've started being more on top of her bedtime, has been better rested and healthier. On Fri/Sat, she has to be home by 11 (usually) and if she's running a "sleep deficit" already, she knows I'll make her get in earlier! But I think I'm reasonable; I make exceptions for special ocassions, in fact a few years ago I let her stay out til 2a for Star Wars preview!
Originally Posted By DlandJB Both my kids had 8 p.m. bedtimes until last year. Now the 15 year old may stay up until 10 and the 11 year old until 9 - then I usually read with him for about 20 minutes. On weekends he can stay up until 10 and the 15 year old may stay up pretty much as late as she wishes, but she has to be home by 10 if she is out with friends. Set bed time was something my late husband demanded (along with no television during the week) I thought it was a little extreme, but frankly it was really good for them. They got enough sleep during the week and we got through the early "gimme" years with little to no exposure to toy or cereal commercials.
Originally Posted By Lady Starlight My son is in bed each weeknight at 8:00 and Madame Leota's is 10:00 . I don't remember havinga set bedtime when I Was younger. all I know is that NO ONE was allowed (or suffer my mothers wrath) to call our house after 9:00 pm at night. Funny how I still feel that way at my house now. 9:00pm seems to be a late time to call someone for us at my house at least and I always fear I'll disturb someone if I Call them at that time.
Originally Posted By TomSawyer My dad didn't allow phone calls after 9:00 pm or before 9:00 am, either. Even now I still don't make calls after 9:00 pm unless it's an emergency.
Originally Posted By avromark <<I probably have the oldest kid mentioned here, 16 y o. Most have mentioned they don't or didn't have a set bedtime for teens, but let's say I "strongly suggest" she's in bed by 9 on school nights. Crazy huh?>> The 14 yr old decides to go to bed early on his own, he's in a growth spurt so I like to kid him about his relative laziness now.
