What is the ideal bedtime for an 11 year old child?

Question

Our sons current bedtime is 7.30 but he feels this is too early and that we are 'harsh'. what time do other users recommend for a child of this age?

Answer 1

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA.. 7:30?? Ha.. I say ten. Thats a good time because Its not too late, or not too early.. I think you are being WAY to harsh. My brother is 9 and his bedtime is 10:00 and then he wakes up at 6:30 by himself! So I say give it a shot.. he obviously is you oldest? Because if you had older children you would know by now that 7:30 is rediculous.

Answer 2

7.30 does seem a little harsh but then bed 'times' are so confusing a 11 yr old should be havin between 9 n 11 hours sleep obviously some children differ but 8 isnt enough n more than 11 prob too much u can have 2 much of a good thing try compromising with ure son he will learn a valuable life lesson n u will earn some brownie points

Answer 3

for an 11 year old? around 10 o'clock. I had a really early bedtime when I was younger, and now just don't sleep. I sat up all night last night watching films. I blame the early bedtime for my insomnia.
I'm 15, and no longer have a bedtime. and 4 years ago I was definetly not going to bed at 7:30! more like 11:00!!! (but then I would refuse to get up, so 10 o'clock would be better)
all these 'sensible' adults saying half 8 really annoy me, because no kid goes to bed that early!!!!!!

Answer 4

7:30 for an 11 yr old I think is early. I would say 9-9:30. Someone said 10 for a teenager? I wasn't aware that people gave their teens bedtimes. My bedtime ended at about 12.

Answer 5

7:30 is fine, and 8:00 to 8:30 would be acceptable. On certain days, like when there is a family event, one could extend up to 10:00, especially if there is no school the next day. But if there is school the next day, 9:00 would be the line for me, even if there is a special occasion.

This is not a question of being "harsh", it is a question of proper child care. Children need a lot of sleep to support their growth, and if that is neglected, you and the child will pay for it later with multiple problems.

Answer 6

Same bedtime for mine, about the same age. Children need 9-11 hours of sleep - For a treat Friday nights we stay up late 9pm sometimes 9:30ish-10. 7:30 is not too early.

Answer 7

I say 7:30 is way too early, but not 10 yet. I say about 8:30. a good way to update his bedtime is that every year, it gets a little later. like if he is 11 and its at 8:00, then when he turns 12, he gets to stay up till 8:30. but dont let itt get later than 10:30.

Answer 8

Our daughters' bedtime is in between 9 and 10 pm, and they should need at least 8-10 hours of sleep. I think 7:30 is early.

Answer 9

I think if he is still in juniors/Primary school at 11 8-9o/c,

however if he is in senior school (just starting) then 9-10 (maybe playing out 'til 9 but in bed by 10pm).

Again it depends if he needs his sleep.

My daughter 8, is usually in bed by 7.30, and my son 2 falls asleep about 8-8.30, My neighbours have got two boys aged 3&6 and they are awake til 11.30 most nights, playing, screaming with laughter, general games noise on their balcony, NOT because it disturbs my kids (slightly) but I think its discusting that the parents let them stay awake so late and then they have to get up for school, its not fair on the children to go to bed late and then have to get up early.

Sorry, I seem to have gone off the rails a bit here, I'm gonna stop now,

Answer 10

My 8 year old (as well as my 6 and 4 yr olds) go to bed at 7PM. At 10, I plan to raise it to 8PM. So give him the extra half hour, but not any more than that. Watch him to see if he gets up in the morning at a decent time. If not, his bedtime needs to be moved back to 730. That is what my guage is anyways. My kids like to play in their rooms and come out to pee at least once after bed, so I know good and well that they aren't asleep at 7:01PM. During the last time change, we tried moving their bedtime to 730, but they didn't wake up on their own from school, and were a bit tired the next day. So irregardless of age, none of them were ready for it. I'd rather have a kid with good sleep that gets up by themselves at 7AM than be grumping and yelling every morning to get them up for school. I go to bed at 10-10:30 PM and think its not in a child's best interests to stay up late just because they want to.

Answer 11

At the age of 11 I was at Boarding School and out 'Lights Out Time' was 20:30. This was far too early, we used to get into all sorts of trouble for talking but we just weren't tired at that time. Try 9 ish and then let it get a little later every year.