Bedtimes During School Year

I have twin boys who are almost 10 and going into 5th grade. Last year we started the school year with an 8 pm bedtime and as the year progressed I moved it to 8:30 pm. They want a 9 pm. this year but I am not going for it. We are starting the school year at the 8:30 and I don't see it moving until close to the end of the school year - they need the sleep and we all know that kids don't go right to sleep - they think we don't know that...LOL. When I talked to the other Mom's of the kids I like in their class (better behaved and pretty good students) they also have similiar bedtimes. Hope that helps.
L.

I say it is definitely not too early. Let your child's needs determine their bedtime not their friends. Your child needs sleep in order to do her best at school...if she functions well going to bed at 8:30 and you're ready to compromise with her than I would imagine that would be fine...but bedtimes serve numerous functions, they set a routine so the child knows what to expect, they assure quality and quantity of sleep and they give the parent a chance to have time to accomplish a few things after they go to bed. I am a strong advocate of early bedtimes for the whole family's sake! Remember, it's your job as the parent to set the rules...not to negotiate them with your child.

My son is almost 9 and going into 4th grade. Last yar his bedtime was 8pm and this year it will be 8:30. He lies in bed listening to books on tape and usually falls asleep within about 20 minutes.

I too have a soon to be 9 year old that will be in the fourth grade. I also have a 7 year old girl and a 8 year old nephew living with us. Last year their bedtime was 9pm and they also got up at 7am. They did pretty good with it. I found that if i tried earlier they gave me more of a fight about goin to bed. My parents use to watch my girls when i had to work second shift and they got them on the routine of goin to bed at 9. Maybe u could make a deal with ur daughter tell her okiee we will try it but if there is a problem then she will have to go back.

My daughter who is nine does the same thing. I guess if you know your child needs the sleep than stick to it. There is nothing on tv after 8 that is appropriate for them anyways. My daughter goes to bed at 8-8:30 and if she doesn't she has a really bad morning. I know some kids that don't go to bed till 10. And they seem to do just fine. But my nine year old needs the sleep.

I have a 9 yr. old going into the fourth grade, and last year I was putting her to bed anywhere between 9-9:30pm. That time seemed to work ok. She was getting plenty of sleep, and didn't seem to have any problems with school and sleep. Initially, it's up to you, but I think even 9pm would suffice for the amount of sleep they need to get.

Hi. Well my mean stepdad made me get ready into high school at 9..of course I just lied there listening to the tv through the walls. As for them, yeah I am surprised to hear they do go to bed that early! Last year my 7 year old went to sleep by 9:30 or 10..it really changed in the summer when her 9 year old half sis came over..wanting to stay up past 11!! I will probably keep at 10, and hope she gets to sleep before then.
good luck.

My Bedtime was 8pm or 8;30 until I was in 9th Grade, then it increased one out for each grade until in 12th grade I didn't have a bedtime anymore. Worked well for me.

As far as I can remember, we always went to bed after "family TV time" (the two prime time shows we watched as a family every night)- so around 9:00. If there wasn't a show on that we watched together, we played games instead. I would think that whatever time works best for your family is the "right" time. Maybe if you can't get her to go to sleep at 8, you guys can have a quiet hour or wind down time.

If she doesn't share a room with her sisters, she could have to go to her room at 8 or 8:30, and read or journal, or listen to music quietly until nine. That way you still get your down time with your husband...or your obsessions :)...and if she is too tired from staying up that extra hour, chances are she'll just go to bed than fighting to stay awake.

When my daughter was nine, her bedtime was 9:00 p.m., it gave her enough sleep. My daughter too acted like she was the mom and still does. But anyway good luck.

8 is probably too early for a 9 year old, but I wouldn't push it past 9:00. 10 hours of sleep should be plenty. Your 7 year old could probably be able to go to bed a 8:00, but might want to stay up later because the older one is. Good luck.

I have 3 children, 2 boys who are 15 yrs and 7 years, and 1 girl who just turned 10.

Last school year (when my daughter was 9 and in the 4th grade and she likes to act as if she is the mom too. I think that it's the age lol), I had a 9:00pm bedtime for my kids and they had to get up at 7am.
They didn't have any problems with it, as a matter of fact, my daughter would be awake and in the shower by 6:30am, before her brothers were even awake. She is also an Honor roll student.

My opinion is that you know your children best. Go with your instincts on what you think they can handle for a bedtime and still have a good morning the next day, or, you can even have a trial at 9pm for bedtime, waking her at 7am and see how she does and adjust accordingly then.

Good luck on whatever you decide to do.