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What time do you think a 12 year old should go to bed during the week?


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  • Every child is different… around 10-12 hours is not unusual here. Teenagers will need as much (or more!) I think. We encourage ‘in room’ (no devices/phones/etc.) by 7:30pm (for some time to read or relax before sleep, but often sleep comes first in the dark winter nights) and its usually 6:30am-7:00am rise and shine. Also lucky in that we get a good 4 hours after school for homework and dinner. Most families don’t have the luxury and it’s a shame to have so little time when a child does want to sleep anytime before 8pm.


  • I think 9 pm is a good time.


  • I have younger children so it’s a bit harder to judge. My 8 year old goes to bed around 7-7.30 but can still be up sometimes at 9pm! It also depends what time they need to be up in the mornings. I would suggest a 8-8.30 bedtime with lights out at 8.30-9pm.


  • My son is 11 and goes to bed between 7.30 – 8.30pm usually he will say he’s tired if he wants to go earlier. He is up at the crack of dawn too which is odd but it works for him.


  • They say no less than 5 hours, no more than 10 hours. ( I think). But I’d say around 930pm. my son is 8 and he’s usually in bed 8pm.


  • They need at least 10hours plus sleep to help function and reenergise. So work backwards on what time they need to get up and do at least 10hours from there.


  • Our 12yr old goes to no later than 9.30 pm ,no later.Found any later she gets grumpy.


  • About 8.30, DD would read for a while.


  • When my 12 year old was in year 6, she went to bed at 8 and read til 8.30. Now she is in high school, she goes to bed at 8.30 and reads til 9. This gives her some extra time to get her homework done and still be able to relax a little.


  • I allow miss 12 to stay up till 8 than 30 minutes reading. Any later and she can’t cope in the morning. It depends on your child


  • I allow our 12 year old son to stay up until 8.30pm,then he goes to bed for half an hour with a book :)


  • In my opinion 8.30pm would be fine. I would say no later. If he/she is currently going to bed earlier than that maybe use it as a “when u turn 13″ thing, so they feel its a milestone.


  • Yes I think 9 at the latest. Perhaps with a bit of leeway on the weekends and holidays.


  • My 10yr old goes to bed at 8pm. When hes 12 it will be 9pm. If hes tired he will go to bed earlier. He reads for half an hr before bed so he can relax. I do think all kids vary though.


  • My eldest boy used to go to bed at 9pm to 9.30pm when he was 12 years old. However we did have some trouble with my second son and our daughter who was also younger because their big brother was allowed to go to bed later. Problems! Problems! Problems?


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