Should A Child Pick Their Own Bedtime? Pros And Cons For Parents To Consider
Do you let your children pick their own bedtime? If not, should you? There are pros and cons to giving your child autonomy in setting their bedtime. However, one thing’s certain: letting your child set their own bedtime, while at the same time teaching them the importance of good sleep hygiene, will give them greater self-control and make them more responsible individuals in the long run. Here are the pros and cons of allowing your children to pick their own bedtime.
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4 Reasons Why Bedtime Is Better When Children Pick
Having your kids pick out when they want to go to sleep or stay up can be challenging. There are some real benefits, though, including less stress for you as well as more happiness in getting enough sleep. Here’s how you can teach your children about picking their own bedtimes and make it work for everyone involved.
- First, talk with them about the day’s events and let them know how tired they might feel during the day so that they have an idea of what time might be best for them.
- Second, show them that you’re willing to listen by giving them options on what time would work best for them.
- Third, involve them in the process by allowing their input into the decision.
- Finally, after making the decision together- no matter which option is chosen- reinforce why this is an essential step towards healthy sleeping habits.
What Are the Draw Backs of Children Picking Bedtimes
The main concern of allowing your children to pick their own bedtimes is that it may take away from quality time.
If you’re interested in trying this method, make sure to set up boundaries for the kids so they don’t feel like there are no limits. For example, if the kid needs to be in bed by 9:00 pm every night but wants to stay up until 10:00 pm one day per week then let them know that if they break the rule then there will be consequences (i.e., TV privileges).
What Are Appropriate Bedtimes For Kids?
There’s no one answer to this question since every family is different and every child is different. However, there are some general guidelines you can follow. For school-aged children, between the ages of 6 and 12 years old, a good bedtime is usually between 8 and 9 pm.
For teenagers, between the ages of 13 and 18 years old, a good bedtime is usually between 9 and 10 pm. For younger kids, who need more sleep because they’re still growing, a good bedtime is usually between 7 and 8 pm.
The current recommendation is that school-aged children need an average of 10 hours of sleep a night, and teenagers need about nine hours.
It’s important for all kids to get enough sleep though because it helps them grow up healthy and strong!
How To Tell If My Child Needs Bedtime
As I indicated before, keeping consistent bedtimes is one way that you can keep life predictable for your kids, which will make them feel less stressed about other things in their lives. Here are two tips for telling it’s your kid’s bedtime:
Acknowledge When They’re Tired:
When we get tired, our brains release a hormone called melatonin that makes us sleepy. As children grow older, the amount of melatonin produced naturally decreases and this can make it harder for them to fall asleep at night. In order to know if your child is tired, pay attention to their body language.
Check For Yawning or Slowing Down;
Another clue that kids may be sleepy is if they start acting out or getting cranky with siblings; these may be signs that they need some rest before school tomorrow morning!
Are Parent Bedtimes Necessary?
If you’re not getting enough sleep, it can be tempting to just forego bedtime altogether. But according to experts, having a set bedtime is important for both kids and adults.
A regular bedtime can help improve your sleep quality, which in turn can lead to better physical and mental health. Plus, having a bedtime routine can help you wind down and relax at the end of the day. So even if you’re not a fan of parent bedtimes, it’s worth giving them a try!
