The Best Time for Fifth Grade Children to Go to Sleep

A cranky, sleep-deprived 5th grader is the last thing you need amidst the hustle and bustle of a hectic morning routine. School-age kids require about 10 to 12 hours of sleep each night, advises KidsHealth. The "best" bedtime for a 5th grader depends on his schedule. For example, if your child needs 11 hours sleep and has to get up at 6:30 a.m. on weekdays, he should be in bed by 7:30 p.m. Keeping your child on a similar schedule on weekends can make Sunday nights go more smoothly.

  1. Challenges

    • Getting the ideal amount of sleep is no easy feat when your child has to make time for homework, sports practices and extracurricular activities. Once the "must do" list is complete, most 5th graders want to squeeze in some time to play video games, surf the internet and watch TV. Watching TV too close to bedtime has been associated with bedtime resistance, problems falling asleep and sleeping less than the recommended hours, explains the National Sleep Foundation. Poor or insufficient sleep can make your 5th grade moody, hyperactive and render him unable to perform well in school.

    Postponing the Inevitable

    • If you got a dollar every time you heard your 5th grader say "Just five more minutes" when you announce that it's bedtime, you'd probably have an impressively high stack of bills. Your child will drag out bedtime for as long as she can if you allow it. Passively giving your child permission to run the show can stretch out bedtime by 15 or 30 minutes or even longer. A clever 5th grader may go so far as to drag you into a TV show or video game by saying something like "You've got to see this!"

    Bedtime Routine

    • Establishing and sticking with a predictable bedtime routine helps your child understand that when the day is done, the day is done, period. Along with teeth brushing, bathing, reading a short story or other basic bedtime rituals, a brief bedtime cleanup can be a beneficial part of the routine, explains Healthy Children, a website published by the American Academy of Pediatrics. For example, teach your 5th grader to return toys and books to their designated spots and put any clothes that are strewn about the room back in drawers and closets. Waking up to a neat room can help your fully rested child easily find his backpack, books and other items he needs to start a new day.

    Quiet Time Before Shuteye

    • Continue to remind your 5th grader about the importance of maintaining a regular sleep schedule and bedtime routine. Stressing the need for adequate shuteye might help prevent your child from slipping back into the habit of doing what he can to stretch out his evening. A dark, quiet and cool bedroom will help promote a good night's sleep. Computers and TVs should not be allowed in your child's room, notes the NSF. Turning the TV on low or sneaking a laptop into bed after lights out might prove to be an irresistible guilty pleasure for your 5th grader.

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