Does my child still need to go to bed early?!
Many of us are working from home and have our kids at home with us. Our schedules are off and our responsibilities and commitments are less. Just like in the summer, we are all quick to change our sleeping habits, staying up later but not always sleeping in longer.
Lack of sleep can (and usually does) impact anxiety, our mood, our behavior, and even how much we eat! This is certainly true for kids and teenagers who need more sleep than most people realize.
As such, it is very important to continue to set reasonable bedtimes, really not much more than 30 minutes to an hour later than what your child is accustomed to. If your children are still getting up at the same time, they should go to bed at the same time.
Typically children 3 to 6-years old need 10 to 13 hours of sleep per day. Children 6 to 12-years old need 9 to 12 hours of sleep per day and children 12 to 18-years old need 8 to 10 hours of sleep per day.
As you work on setting other schedules and activities for your child, be sure to incorporate a good sleep schedule as well!
~Dr. Sam