Should Kids Be Able To
Choose Their Own Bedtime?
Write an essay in which you give your opinion about whether or not children should be allowed to choose their own bed times. Use information from the passages in your article.
Manage your time carefully so that you can:
• read the passages;
• plan your response;
• write your response; and
• revise and edit your response.
Be sure to include
• an introduction; with a hook, a thesis statement, and preview of the essay
a clear statement of your opinion.
• support for your opinion using information from the passages; and cite the text in each of the body paragraphs
• a conclusion that is related to your opinion. Your response should be in the form of a multi-paragraph essay. (5 paragraphs)
Should Kids Be Able To Choose Their Own Bedtime?
By Joel Parker
Responsibility
If we stay up to late we still have to get up in time to get ready and go to school. If we are tired, it is our fault, but that is also how we can learn to go to bed earlier on our own. As time goes on, we can form a schedule that fits our needs, Knowing that we did it without a parent. You still have to know how to control yourself, though. Be mature about it! You can’t go to bed at 2 a.m., and expect to wake up the next morning. This will set an example for other children and ourselves when we are older.
If children could choose their own bedtimes they could set a bedtime schedule that could fit in with assignments, homework, talks and special events. We would never have to be late for one of these again.
Less Stress
If children could choose their bed time they wouldn’t have to stress if they couldn’t fall asleep, because they would think their parents wouldn’t be mad at them in the morning for being tired. Because going to sleep would be the child’s responsibility.
Kids Are Already Controlled Enough
Kids have to complete homework on time, complete assignments on time, complete talks on time, make their beds, go to school, finish their chores, brush their teeth, and so on. They do not need to be told when to go to bed if they are responsible to finish all of these tasks. Also, if they never learn to take responsibility when they are younger they will never learn when it is an appropriate time to go to bed is.
In summing up my talk, children these days are given higher responsibilities and expectations by their parents, and therefore the parents need to give them more trust to prove they are capable of looking after themselves.
Kids should be able to choose their own bedtime
Written by: Jeremy
I am sure you have been in the middle of doing something that needed to be completed when suddenly your mom yells, “It’s time for bed!” Now you need to stop what you were doing and put it all away. But what if you could choose your own bedtime that would change everything! I believe that kids should be able to choose their own bedtime because you can finish up work or a level on a video game, it allows kids to learn better responsibility, and if adults can do it why can’t kids?
In the first place staying up later could allow kids to complete anything unfinished. If you have a ton of homework and don’t have enough time to finish it all, you could stay up later to do more work, or if you have a sport you need to participate in that finishes at your bedtime, you could spend more time with your family by staying up until 10:00! I for one have been calling my friend on a video game but then came time for bed and I had to leave my friend there…alone…bored.
According to popular belief most kids are not very responsible, however some kids are. Kids could increase their responsibility by being allowed to choose their own bedtime so then if they stay up too late they learn their lesson because they are very tired and don’t want to be that tired again. Most kids would learn to adjust slowly to the bedtime they desire!
IT’S NOT FAIR!!! Most parents stay up quite a bit longer after their kids go to sleep. Adults can stay up late so can’t kids too? Adults are almost never tired at night and when they are it’s because they have lots of work to do. Kids never have that much work but you may be thinking I have stayed up late with my parents but I was tired and they weren’t! The reason for that is that they are used to it! Day by day they increase their bedtime little by little until they can stay up until one whereas kids take a big leap from let’s say 8:30-12:30.
Essentially there is no big reason why kids should not stay up later it allows kids to complete anything unfinished, it builds responsibility, and if adults can do it why can’t kids?! Let them stay up later!!! The next time your child asks permission to stay up later consider my reasons and you may be surprised at the possible results.
10 Benefits of an Early Bedtime for Your Child
It’s healthier for children, and can
ensure a more restful night for parents, too.
By Kim West, Contributor March 30, 2017, at 6:00 a.m.
U.S. News & World Report
MANY OF YOUR CHILD’S sleep struggles may be significantly lessened by one new habit: an early bedtime.
I often talk to parents whose children struggle with waking up at night, early rising and resisting getting in bed as well as going to sleep. One of the most consistent issues that we need to address for these children is setting and sticking to an early bedtime.
An early bedtime can mean much more restful sleep for your child, and it is often much easier to implement than parents think. Here are 10 benefits of an early bedtime for your child:
A healthier child: Research finds that 18-month-olds with later bedtimes are at a higher risk for motor, language and social deficits. A late bedtime can also negatively affect your school-age child’s alertness and, as a result, their performance in school. A study published in the journal Pediatrics found a direct correlation between improved sleep and emotional stability in 7- to 11-year-olds.
What's more, studies show that children who go to bed later tend to have poorer dietary habits and a higher body mass index, or BMI, compared to those who get to bed earlier. The bottom line is that an early, age-appropriate bedtime can significantly affect your child’s health emotionally, mentally and physically.
Less night wakings: The later you put your child to bed, the more you run the risk of night wakings. One reason is that your child may be too drowsy at his/her late bedtime to master the skill of putting himself/herself to sleep. In addition, when he/she goes through a natural sleep cycle – and wakes – he/she does not have the skill to put himself/herself back to sleep, which becomes more difficult as the night goes on.
Less early rising: You might think that a child would sleep a little longer if overtired, but it’s simply not true. The body secretes alerting hormones when we’re overtired, which makes bedtime more difficult and tends to cause the child to wake more during the night. A child who goes to sleep too late, nap-deprived and overly drowsy will actually be likely to rise early. The ability to “sleep in” does not typically occur until a child is 6 to 8 years old.
Less resistance at bedtime: Children may resist getting in bed for a few reasons. Researchers at the University of California–Berkeley found that poor sleep can definitely lead to increased resistance and conflict at bedtime the next night, as you may have noticed at home. When children have poor sleep habits, you may see more temper tantrums, power struggles and poor behavior. While these behaviors certainly aren't unusual for a toddler or preschooler, they become more prevalent and intense if your child isn’t getting to bed early enough.
A predictable bedtime: You know that feeling when you need to make dinner but don’t have a plan? You drag your feet and avoid it until the very last possible minute. We can do the same thing with our child’s sleep routine. However, by settling on an earlier bedtime, you will have more confidence and energy to make it happen. Although your child may push back against your new rule, they will actually thrive with well-set boundaries.
Quality time before bed: An early bedtime and a soothing bedtime routine go hand in hand. Instead of just getting ready for bed, you’re making sweet memories together reading books, singing songs and snuggling. Your child can't help but benefit from this stable, emotionally secure time. Just keep activities before bedtime quiet and calm.
Quicker to sleep: A consistent routine and early bedtime will begin to create a more emotionally secure feeling for your child, which will help him/her go to sleep more easily. This preparatory time also signals to your child’s mind and body that it’s time for bed. Production of the hormone melatonin – the body's own natural sleep-inducing chemical – can begin, and he/she will nod off to sleep more calmly and quickly.
More overall sleep: Children who get to sleep consistently early, don’t wake at night and don’t rise early unnecessarily simply end up logging more hours of sleep, which is what they likely need.
Healthy sleep habits for the future: Your child’s bedtime will get later as she grows older, but the regular routine and consistency of your expectations at bedtime will rescue you from many conflicts down the line. It will also keep your child from poor health due to bad sleep. Staying up late will be a fun exception rather than the regular routine.
A more restful evening for you: If you gain back some time in the evening – not to mention, during the night or in the morning – you can enjoy more personal time and probably a better night’s rest yourself. This can mean a more energized parent the next morning. That’s a win-win.
What’s Next?
Have these 10 benefits of an early bedtime convinced you to make some changes? If so, here are steps you can take to implement an early bedtime for your child:
1. Find the right bedtime for your child’s age. Your child's bedtime should be early compared to yours. While it’s normal for you to stay up until 10 p.m., it’s really not OK for your child.
Learn to watch for signs of drowsiness, such as rubbing eyes, fussiness, staring or yawning. Become a student of your own child, and see what he/she tends to do right before he/she becomes too fussy to go to sleep easily. Your goal is to put your baby to bed when drowsy but still awake.
As a guideline, most children under the age of 9 should have a bedtime between 7:30 and 8 p.m. This should be one to two hours after dinner. To ensure your child is getting an adequate amount of rest, follow the National Sleep Foundation's latest recommendations.
(COURTESY OF KIM WEST)
2. Set up a soothing bedtime routine. A well-planned bedtime routine benefits parents and children. It’s important to follow a pattern when putting your child down for a nap and to bed each night. Naptime routines may be super short: a short book, a kiss and into bed. Bedtime routines can include the following:
teeth brushing
putting on pajamas
a potty stop
a last drink of water
a book
snuggles and bedtime kisses
getting tucked into bed
a song
lights out
It’s also important to try to keep evenings calm and quiet after dinner by reading or looking at books, turning off electronics and even dimming the lights.
3. Be consistent. The single most important advice I give families is to strive for consistency with the new, early bedtime routine.
A study in England found that children with inconsistent bedtimes had much worse behavioral problems than even those who did not have enough sleep, and a late bedtime. There were more behavioral problems, such as emotional outbursts and signs of hyperactivity, in those children with random bedtimes. It is so important to make an early bedtime commitment and stay the course for your child’s well-being.
Your consistency in these new habits will also bolster his/her sense of confidence in your care. When we follow through, our child learns to relax in our care and to trust us.
Kim West has been a contributor to U.S. News since 2017.
10 Benefits of an Early Bedtime for Your Child
It’s healthier for children, and can
ensure a more restful night for parents, too.
By Kim West, Contributor March 30, 2017, at 6:00 a.m.
U.S. News & World Report
MANY OF YOUR CHILD’S sleep struggles may be significantly lessened by one new habit: an early bedtime.
I often talk to parents whose children struggle with waking up at night, early rising and resisting getting in bed as well as going to sleep. One of the most consistent issues that we need to address for these children is setting and sticking to an early bedtime.
An early bedtime can mean much more restful sleep for your child, and it is often much easier to implement than parents think. Here are 10 benefits of an early bedtime for your child:
A healthier child: Research finds that 18-month-olds with later bedtimes are at a higher risk for motor, language and social deficits. A late bedtime can also negatively affect your school-age child’s alertness and, as a result, their performance in school. A study published in the journal Pediatrics found a direct correlation between improved sleep and emotional stability in 7- to 11-year-olds.
What's more, studies show that children who go to bed later tend to have poorer dietary habits and a higher body mass index, or BMI, compared to those who get to bed earlier. The bottom line is that an early, age-appropriate bedtime can significantly affect your child’s health emotionally, mentally and physically.
Less night wakings: The later you put your baby to bed, the more you run the risk of night wakings. One reason is that your child may be too drowsy at his late bedtime to master the skill of putting himself to sleep. In addition, when he goes through a natural sleep cycle – and wakes – he does not have the skill to put himself back to sleep, which becomes more difficult as the night goes on.
Less early rising: You might think that a child would sleep a little longer if overtired, but it’s simply not true. The body secretes alerting hormones when we’re overtired, which makes bedtime more difficult and tends to cause the child to wake more during the night. A child who goes to sleep too late, nap-deprived and overly drowsy will actually be likely to rise early. The ability to “sleep in” does not typically occur until a child is 6 to 8 years old.
Less resistance at bedtime: Children may resist getting in bed for a few reasons. Researchers at the University of California–Berkeley found that poor sleep can definitely lead to increased resistance and conflict at bedtime the next night, as you may have noticed at home. When children have poor sleep habits, you may see more temper tantrums, power struggles and poor behavior. While these behaviors certainly aren't unusual for a toddler or preschooler, they become more prevalent and intense if your child isn’t getting to bed early enough.
A predictable bedtime: You know that feeling when you need to make dinner but don’t have a plan? You drag your feet and avoid it until the very last possible minute. We can do the same thing with our child’s sleep routine. However, by settling on an earlier bedtime, you will have more confidence and energy to make it happen. Although your child may push back against your new rule, they will actually thrive with well-set boundaries.
Quality time before bed: An early bedtime and a soothing bedtime routine go hand in hand. Instead of just getting ready for bed, you’re making sweet memories together reading books, singing songs and snuggling. Your child can't help but benefit from this stable, emotionally secure time. Just keep activities before bedtime quiet and calm.
