What Time Should 8Year Olds Be Going to Bed?

Try using a timer to cut down on the 'pokiness'.

Set the bedtime at whatever hour you choose.

If he 'runs late' by 10 minutes, 15 minutes, 30 minutes then the next night he has to start his bedtime routine earlier to compensate. For example, if he is supposed to go to bed at 8:30 but doesn't get into the sack until 9:00 - the next night he has to start getting ready at 8:00. Cutting into his 'playtime' might do wonders to get him moving along.

Hi J.-

My twins are in first grade and what has worked so well is having a schedule typed and put on a kitchen wall (or you could put it on the refrigerator.) In kindergarten I actually had them daily check off things that needed to be done before they went to school such as check backpack, put clothes on, brush teeth, etc...

Having a routine that is typed makes so much sense because it is a visual reminder at what needs to be done. (I am a former teacher and I remember just how much my students benefitted from reading a schedule. It will help you out, too, since I know you need to do many other things considering you have twins that are only a yr. old. In my experience, kids love having written/typed schedule because it puts them in control. You are not having to constantly reminding them to brush their teeth, use the bathroom, etc... You might have to remind your son to read the scedule for awhile so he can see what comes next with the routine. Have him help you decide what order things should be done in. Don't read him the list, rather have him read what should be done next. (He's eight yrs. old... let him feel confident and in control.)

I typed the routine out in two rotating colors and made the font bigger so it printed out on two sheets of paper. I glued the papers together so it's one long list and I even put red colored poster board behind it. (Having a duplicate copy of schedule in his room might be helpful too.) I put some fun stickers around the poster too.

My twins rotate bath nights. The other child will spend time with me or my husband or have some computer time, while the other one is taking a bath. Bathtime is over by 7:15. A simple snack is offered at 7:30 such as fruit or yogurt. Then bathroom time at 7:45. As a family, we read together on my bed from approx. 8:00 to 8:20. Then cuddle until 8:30. At 8:30 they get tucked in their own beds- light out! (If it is not a school night, I will let them stay in their own rooms from 8:30 til 8:45 or 9:00 to do a quiet activity such as independent reading or drawing.)
(They love this additional time... they look at it as such a privledge.)

My daughter's teacher asked her class what time they go to bed and my daughter said almost all the kids said 8:00. One girl reported 7:30 and two kids said 9:00. On school nights, 8:30 works for my family.

Take care,
J.

Our almost 8 year old is in bed around 8:15-8:30. She usually is fast asleep within 5-10 minutes. Falling asleep after 9:30 would be a headache for her and Mommy (I need a bit of time too!). We let her stay up and read until 8:30 if she's in bed by 8:15. On weekends we let them stay up until 9:00 if we are having family night. Oh yeah---she usually wakes up by herself at sometime between 6:30 and 7:15...and in a pretty good mood. Good luck!

9 is definitely too late! I have always been a firm believer in bedtimes, especially because the kids have to get up early! My oldest (now 20) had a strict bedtime, even in high school. He didn't stay up until 10 p.m. until he was a senior..he was an athlete and had to be at school somedays at 6 a.m. for weightlifting and combined with afterschool practice..he was tired. My 14 yr old also plays sports and is in 8th grade now. He is in bed between 8:30 and 9 p.m. Occasionally, 9:30.

We start the bedtime routine by 7:15 on school nights, in bed by 7:30 after jammies and teeth brushing. Read aloud story/cuddles for 15 minutes. Then, lights out by 7:45 most nights. Our kids are 7 and 9 and have followed this routine since they were little. We have found that putting them to bed before they are totally worn down works best for them. If we keep them up for a special event, sometimes they have a hard time since they are too keyed up. They are up by 6 am and we have some great family time before school/work each morning!

I do bedtime based on the number of hours of sleep needed. My daughter goes to bed at 9pm (rather lights OUT at 9pm) and she sleeps until 7:15. She needs about 10 or 11 hours of sleep. We tried going to bed at 8pm but she gets home from soccer and gymnastics at 7pm so that doesn't work.

Every child is different on the amount of hours of sleep they need. But I always base her bedtime on how many hours she needs and a child of 7 needs about 10-12.

My daughter has always been an early riser so she has always been eager to go to bed earlier. She is now 10 and we have just started allowing her to stay up until 9 once in a while. Typically she must be in bed by 8 and then can read until 8:30. At 8:30 she will brush teeth, use bathroom, drink water and must be in bed by 8:45.

I have found that most of my daughter's friends go to sleep MUCH later than this. The parents may work later and therefore the dinner time, family time and bed time have all been pushed back later. My daughter wouldn't function well if she went to bed later.

Reading before bed really helps with the routine and with school.

I say 8pm for this age.

My daughter is 8.5 and in the past year we changed from 7pm to 7:30pm (lights out time.) She gets up at 6:45am. This is her bedtime NO MATTER WHAT (weekends, etc.) We will miss events or rearrange schedules in order to have her in bed on time because it is that crucial to her functioning and behavior.