My dd is 4 (starting school in september) and goes to bed between 6.30 and 7pm, she is so tired by then she needs to. Some days she is in bed earlier then that, like today for example, I had the car that ment I had to go get dh from work in town at 5.30pm, she has had a busy week and a full day at pre-school today and tomorrow she has her second and final induction morning at school so allot going on, I knew that she would fall asleep in the car on the way back from getting dh so she had a very early supper and as expected when we got back at 6pm she was falt out, took her up got her changed and into bed and she will stay there till morning however her friend who lives on our close is 3 and a half and he is always up much later playing in the close when the weather is good like this, he came calling for dd at 6.30pm today and took a bit of explaining on my part to why dd was already in bed asleep, when dd has seen him in the close out playing when she is on her way up to bed i explain to her that he goes to bed later becausehe gets up later in the morning, dd is an early riser, up at 6am almost every morning has been since birth (swear it's genetics, dh is just the same), she pritty much accepts that at the moment as she really is very tired when bed time comes round and once she starts school full time in september I expect at least for the first term while she adjusts she will be going to bed even earlier, around 6pm, feel a bit mean on her as her baby brother goes to bed later then she does! (he sleeps longer in the morning normaly and if her is already in bed she would then not be able to have her cup of milk and story all tucked up in bed how she likes it as they share a room and it would wake ds however we do have plans to change this but are waiting to see how things go in september because don't want to start a new routine now for it all to be turned on its head again a couple of months later!), anyway, I am rambling to get to the point, as thire parents we know our children best and know how early they need to go to bed in order to get a good nights sleep, it drives you slightly crazy when neighbour allow thire children to be up late but my expirence so far has been to be honest as I can in my explanation (with out bad mouthing the other mums!!!!) although I can imagine it getting harder as she gets older, I guess you just have to be firm, this is our house these are our rules. not much help am i, sorry for whittering on and being unhelpfull! Jen x

Hi .we are having the same problem,I have a dd age 5 and a ds age 6 both of which are tucked up in bed with lights out between 8.00-8.30 however the little girl accros the road who is in the same class as my daughter is still out playing in the street at 9-930.

This has now started several rows over why they  go to bed at this time but not their friend. I can only see this problem getting worse once  the school holidays start

Hi - SS is 9 in Oct, he gets ready for bed at 8pm and then has 30 mins of his own time to do what he wishes, generally he quietly plays in his room or reads his book - sometimes he watches a cartoon with us but it's lights out at 8.30, the only exception is when he's at cubs and then it's lights out at 8.40 as he doesn't get back from there til 8.15

I'd be appalled if kids came calling at 7.45!!  Weekends we keep basically as the same routine as he needs his sleep!

Hi,

We have the same problem, my dd is 3 and gos up 7 -7:15 and ds 8yrs goes up at 8pm..but washed and ready at 7:30 has supper chills out and does his reading book etc.

But I've had kids younger than him knock on the door at 7:45 (still in school uniform!!) asking if he is going out to play!!. My son changes as soon as he gets home, but see so many playing out in thir uniforms...really odd to me!.

He doesn't go straight to sleep, and tends to look at a book for half an hour.

I think some parents are just too lazy to put their kids to bed and don't want the "I'm not tired !" argument...also too busy watching the soaps in peace without the disturbance of a good bedtime routine.

Hi,

I've not been on here for ages!!

I was jut wondering what time you consider a resonanable time for 7 & 9 year olds to go to bed on a school night? I send mine to bed at 8ish but there friends are making fun of him saying its a baby time but i thought it was quite resonable. Please could you let me know what you think?

Many thanks

xx