Most of us know just how important sleep is in ensuring our kids are able to concentrate and stay fit and healthy, but how much does your little one actually need?
Is your child going to bed at the right time?
As the below chart shows, the time your little one goes to bed at depends on their age and when they have to get up in the morning. So, for example, if your seven-year-old has to be up at 6:30am then they should be going to bed at 7:30pm or if your nine-year-old has to get up at 7:30am then they should be in bed by 9:15pm.
But that means I only see my child for ten minutes in the evening
Whether your little one is in school or not by the time they get their chores done, eat their dinner and do their homework there seems to be very little time for family during the week. To compensate, many mums like to keep their kids awake that bit longer to play with them or talk about their day, often sending them to bed well after they should be tucked in.
We all know that daily activities change and emergencies can pop up making it hard to be as rigid with bedtime as the above chart dictates, particularly if Mum or Dad works until six or seven in the evening. However, by sticking to it as much as your family life allows your little one will greatly benefit from going to bed at the right time.
