Bedtime for small children

Well maybe in other cultures tanith they don't mind children falling asleep in class but here it holds them back. As well as routine for little ones, my DS and DIL are against TVs, radios and PlayStations being in children's' bedrooms. Quite a lot of secondary school children are texting, facebooking etc in all hours of the night then not being able to get up in time or literally falling asleep in class. A teacher friend of ours says some of the teens are exhausted the next day as they have no curfew or bedtime routines. All this affects their GCSE and A-levels if they get that far.

My twin grandsons have a set bedtime routine at home with their mum, who no longer lives with their dad. They are happy and refreshed in the morning, ready for school, well behaved (to the extent you would hope any boisterous five year olds to be). When they stay over with their dad, they stay up late, watch TV in the bedroom, and inconsistency reigns. Next day, they're tardy, bad-tempered and running riot. If I pick them up from school, they're asleep in the car when I pull onto their driveway. They can't manage late nights and school - they're tired by 7 pm anyway after a school day. Dad takes no notice, as he enjoys spiting mum - that's why they are no longer together.

When they were two, they were in bed at 6.30 pm and awake at 7 am. Occasional family events when they stayed up were ok - they just found a lap to go to sleep on that would be a signal to get them home to bed. Small children need 11 or 12 hours in bed once they stop having daytime naps.

Yes, a bedtime routine is important for most children.

I agree with you Dorset. All my children had set bedtime routines. My grandchildren have set bedtime routines. Perhaps it's because of our family traditions. so of course I agree. I work in this field and spend half my working life talking about sleep. What i'v learnt from my work is that each family have their own traditions. It's only a problem if the family think its a problem. However that said once a child is at school being tired impacts on all areas of development. So there may need to be a compromise but it needs to be handled very gently with great care and respect.

The effects of a lack of routine and reasonable bed times are readily observed by teachers up and down the land.

I'm not saying I disagree with you and mine always had a routine in the house, but not everyone lives their life the same. There might be two parents who both work , maybe the child is with a child minder and its the only chance to spend time.. maybe Mum is shattered after a hard day working who knows why people life to a different cycle , maybe they like to get up later in the morning and the children sleep later.
Different cultures have different customs too, I'm just saying live and let live you even though you don't think its best for the child.

I totally agree with you. My grandsons have as always had proper and well managed bedtimes.I think it is essential for children but, sadly, it is going out of the window. It's all wrong.