Ever since he was born, he was a great sleeper, all night through by 11 weeks (yes, I am smug). However I paid for that by him waking every day at 5am. He would have 10 hours sleep, no more, no less. I despaired of the 5am wake-up call. I would crawl out of bed, slump on the sofa and nod off to endless episodes of Thomas The Tank Engine.
When he started school, he shifted forward to 6am. The Gods smiled, I breathed a sigh of relief and then found out I was pregnant with No. 2.
Luckily when No. 2 arrived I was blessed again with good chunks of sleep and a baby that slept through from 12 weeks. (I am super smug). Luckily No. 2 didn't have the 5am wake-up call, 6am is so much more civilised.
Roll on 5 years and this is where I'm at. We have a good bedtime routine, bath/shower, PJ's, teeth brushing, story & bed. This is for both. The 10yo does everything at the same time as the 5yo, albeit about a 10 minute rollover. The 5yo is usually settling down for sleep by 8pm. I personally feel it's late for a 5 yo but I just can't get it any earlier. The 10yo is usually in bed for 8.30 at the latest. Here is where his issue is.
None of my friends go to bed this early.
He clearly feels hard done by. Apparently none of his friends have to go to bed at this time. It's practically the afternoon. Summer evenings when the bedrooms are bathed in sunlight isn't helping. Hearing the neighbours (younger children) still playing in their garden doesn't help.
If he's playing his xBox with his friends, he often has to be the first to leave the game. I don't care. He needs his sleep.
I am not saying no for the sake of it or "just because I said so". We leave the house at 7am. The kids are deposited at their grandparents and MrM and I head off to commute into work. I firmly believe 10 hours helps with his concentration, (his ADHD puts him at a disadvantage in the concentration stakes), helps with keeping him healthy, his body growing strong.
The 5yo is all about the "fairness" of it all. Being a highly competitive madam, she can't see why she must go to bed earlier than her big brother. They are equal. If anything she feels superior to him a fair amount of the time I'm sure. I remember being the little sister and wanting to do the same things at the same time as my big brother. Bed-time and pocket money were big issues in our house when I was small.
It looks like history is repeating it self.
What time do your kids go to bed? Is 8.30 early or late for a 10 year old? I'd love to hear your thoughts on this.
My Neice and Nephew both aged 11 go to bed at around 8pm - for exactly the same reason as you have stated, they are early risers, and their Mum works an early shift, so they are up and out at the a$$ crack of dawn! Its only recently that has been changed from 7:30pm
ReplyDelete10YO 9pm but will be awake at 10 reading but always gets up. 7YO 8.30 and both wake at 7 during week (although 7YO gets up earlier at weekends - how is this fair!). I've always tried to make a difference in bed time between them both. However everyone (parent and child) is different xx
ReplyDeleteit sounds like you all have a good routine - I have the issues with my 8 year old wanting to go to bed at the same time as my 13 year old.. which creates havok on a regular basis here. :)
ReplyDeleteWe've sort of managed to reach a compromise now. I've agreed 8.45 with the 10yo but the 5yo is still at 8pm and thinking the 10yo is straight off to bed too.
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