Don’t struggle to set school bedtime

Getting kids to go to bed early for school can be a challenge, especially if they’ve been staying up late this summer. So how can parents adjust their kids to an earlier bedtime schedule?
School is almost back in session in eastern idaho and that means waking up the kids early to catch the schoolbus. This can be a daunting task for Misty Moratz of Rexburg, especially since she’s let her kids stay up late this summer.

“Yeah, we kind of don’t have a sleeping schedule in the summer because its so light so late, so it’s so hard for them to go to bed,” said Moratz.

It’s typical to let the bedtime schedule be more relaxed during the summertime. But The Sleep Institute in Idaho Falls says children need a maximium of eight hours of sleep in order to perform well at school.

“It’s important to begin a routine before school starts so they can kind of get into the swing of things so they’re not exhausted that first day of school because it will affect their behavior and their ability to learn and remember,” said Christina Finnerty, a nurse practitioner at The Sleep Institute.

So how quickly should parents adjust their children’s bedtime schedule?

“Really establish the routine early. Don’t have it be just an overnight thing. The earlier you can start it the better. Have it be small increments because children will be more apt to go with it. They may not notice if it’s only 15 to 30 minutes or be as upset as if their told to go to bed two to three hours earlier,” said Finnerty.

And gradually setting an earlier bedtime makes it easier for parents to wake up their kids in the morning.

“Kids get up by themselves easier than you having to get them out of bed. They’ve gotten the sleep that they’ve needed,” said Moratz.

The Sleep Institute also says that turning off the TV a half in hour before bedtime and blocking out the sunlight in your children’s bedrooms helps a child fall asleep faster. Seeing light triggers the brain to stay awake.