Bedtime for a 3rd grader

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Forum -> Parenting our children -> School age children

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TightRopeWalker ↓

Tue, Sep 02 2008, 8:01 pm

What is a reasonable bedtime for a 3rd grader? I know I'm a bit overprotective, but my kids need their sleep. Being that they wake up quite early I try and put them in early as well. They're less cranky, and I'm a better mother for it. So my question is - at that age, how early is too early?

Lady Godiva ↓

Tue, Sep 02 2008, 9:32 pm

Before 7 pm is probably too early and after 8 pm is probably too late.

yo'ma ↓

Tue, Sep 02 2008, 9:35 pm

What time do they have to get up?

↑ TightRopeWalker ↓

Tue, Sep 02 2008, 10:43 pm

They need to be up by 7 or so, but they're usually up closer to 6. My 1st grader has to be in in bed with lights out ideally by 6:45, but no later than 7:00. My 3rd grader is in bed by 7:00 with lights out by 7:15. The older one got the short end though. Bedtime used to be between 6:00 and 6:30 two years ago.

↑ yo'ma

Tue, Sep 02 2008, 10:47 pm

If she/he is used to going to sleep around that time, but you want to extend it because she/he is in 3rd grade already (wow!! LOL

), extend it by 15-20 minutes.
My 3rd grader who also has to get up at 7, goes to bed around 8:30, but doesn't fall asleep until after 9 most of the time, but he doesn't need that much sleep.

↑ TightRopeWalker ↓

Tue, Sep 02 2008, 11:02 pm

Last year bedtime was closer to 6:30-6:45. I thought I aleady was being nice, lol.

↑ Lady Godiva ↓

Tue, Sep 02 2008, 11:05 pm

In the winter it's easier to put the kids to bed earlier.
7 to 7 is plenty of sleep for a third grader.

↑ TightRopeWalker

Tue, Sep 02 2008, 11:09 pm

It ends up being 7:30 (actually falling asleep) to 6:00, but most of their friends go to bed later. At times my kids make me feel like I'm being mean. I think I'll stand my ground though.

↑ Lady Godiva

Tue, Sep 02 2008, 11:15 pm

TightRopeWalker wrote:

It ends up being 7:30 (actually falling asleep) to 6:00, but most of their friends go to bed later. At times my kids make me feel like I'm being mean. I think I'll stand my ground though.

I'm the mean mother too who makes her kids go to bed on time on school nights. Twisted Evil

I do it for their own good.

flowerpower

Tue, Sep 02 2008, 11:18 pm

My kids are much younger and they will never fall asleep before eight thirty. They will wake up no later then six though. I think for a third grader the earliest you can put her in is 7 o'clock.

mommy24

Tue, Sep 02 2008, 11:35 pm

My 3rd grader goes to bed by 7:30, but never falls asleep before 8:30- he usually reads until he is to tired to stay up anymore. He usually wakes up around 6:30 - 7 in the morning. He never seems tired so I guess its enough sleep for him.

e1234

Wed, Sep 03 2008, 1:47 am

my 3rd grader is supposed to go to bed at 8 but sometimes it stretches a bit.
It's hard as he only comes home at 5:30 now.

shopaholic

Wed, Sep 03 2008, 10:11 am

My 3rd grader goes to sleep at 7:45 but is awake in bed until who knows when.

greenfire

Wed, Sep 03 2008, 10:35 am

7:30 is more practical as then they will fall asleep ... you cannot force sleep too early ... however I still believe in early to bed early to rise ... bedtime no later than 9:30 while in school (if they would only listen)

manhattanmom

Sat, Sep 06 2008, 10:46 pm

TightRopeWalker wrote:

It ends up being 7:30 (actually falling asleep) to 6:00, but most of their friends go to bed later. At times my kids make me feel like I'm being mean. I think I'll stand my ground though.

When I was growing up, I had a very strict early bedtime and didn't really care all that much. I remember once when I was in 5th grade and my parents were out for the evening and we had a neighbor (HS girl) watch us. My mother told her that at 8:00 I should be in bed. So when it came 8:00 and I was already in bed she was totally shocked and tried to explain to us that in most families, the kids who were already 10 years old stayed up later than that...... My family was always an early night family--even when I was in high school EVERYONE knew you could not call my house after 10:00!!
I don't think I was ever really jealous of my classmates who were always up late. Even now in my own home--I've made us an early night family. I just always need a good sleep. Even if I'm up after 11, my mind is totally not functioning at that time--ever!

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