I’m a teacher – here’s the exact time your child should go to bed on a school night

SUMMER is almost over, which means parents across the UK will be faced with getting their children up for school in the mornings. Thankfully, one teacher has shared her advice to make sure your little one is ready for a day of learning. Teacher Henna Sharma shared her simple steps to ensure your child gets enough sleep on a school night Credit: Henna Sharma The amount of sleep your child requires varies depending on their age (stock image) Credit: Alamy Primary school teacher Henna Sharma revealed that she can spot straight away when a child hasn’t had enough sleep. She pointed out that tell-tale signs can include students struggling to concentrate, feeling more emotional than usual, and nodding off on the carpet or at their desks. Sign up for the Fabulous newsletter Thank you! Henna emphasised that consistent and quality sleep is crucial for children’s progress, with tired children processing information more slowly, and struggling with memory and retaining what they’ve learned. And according to the teacher, there is no golden window of sleep for every child, with the recommended amount varying by age. While children aged from three to six need about 10-13 hours, those from six to 12 should aim for 10-12 hours, Henna shared. This means parents of the younger age group should aim for bedtime between 6pm and 8pm on school nights, while children aged between six and 12 should be going to bed at 9pm at the latest. Henna advised parents of teenagers, aged from 13 to 18 years, to aim for 8-10 hours of sleep for their child. To ensure a full night of sleep for adolescent children before school, parents should enforce a bedtime of 10pm. Most read in Fabulous She added that an insufficient amount of sleep can also lead to other issues, including an increase in anxiety, stress, and a low mood. A lack of rest can also mimic or worsen symptoms of ADHD, leading to restlessness and difficulty managing emotions. Recommended sleep hours by age 3-5 years should get 10-13 hours (6-8pm bedtime) 6-7 years should get 10-11 hours (7-8pm bedtime) 8-9 years should get 10-11 hours (8-9pm bedtime) 10-12 years should get 9-12 hours (8:30-9pm bedtime) 13-15 years should get 8-10 hours (9-10pm bedtime) Comment now