AIBU to ask should a 5 year old be playing out on the street at 9.30pm?

[Donttouchmycoat]

Just that really, it's a school night and there are kid's out playing, one or two of which are only 5. I know if my 5 year old is still awake by 9pm she finds the next morning very difficult to function the next day. I know every child is different, but surely they will find it hard to concentrate in school with such little sleep.

[Floralnomad]

Perhaps their mum knows they won't be able to sleep in the heat and wants to really wear them out .

[JamieXeed74]

In this heat, hell yes they should be outside playing until its dark. No one is sleeping easily with this temp.

[StillDrivingMeBonkers]

Does it matter? no one sleeps in this heat.

[WorraLiberty]

The kids nextdoor have never had a bedtime, as they come from a culture where it's pretty much unheard of.

They tend to eat/sleep whenever they need to (within reason I expect) and somehow it really works for them.

Mine would have been fast asleep at 9.30 on a school night though.

[harderandharder2breathe]

They're unlikely to be sleeping well at the moment anyway, better to be out playing than lying in a hot room trying to sleep and getting cross

[ModreB]

My DS's never really had a bedtime. They went to sleep when they were tired, and always got up in good time for school the next day. Up at about 7am, school by 8.30am.

11pm on a school night was not usual, but not uncommon, at 5yo, 10pm was about the normal time.

Playing out, the rule was come home when the street lights come on.

We are in the UK, so often got looks when we told friends whose kids went to bed at 6pm or 7pm.

They are all fully functional adults now, don't seem to have been disadvantaged by lack of sleep. I don't need much sleep, about 4 hours a night is enough, so I suppose they are more like me than DH, who needs about 6 hours a night.

[coolaschmoola]

'Should' is an interesting word...

[GahBuggerit]

Just different parenting op, tis fine!

[Purplepotatoe]

Not your business!

[lozzylizzy]

We are quite relaxed but mindful of school. We have times to have tea and baths but when they fall asleep is pretty much up to them. 9pm before sleep is normal here and on Friday and Saturday nights whenever! We are going to a BBQ Saturday night and will probably get a taxi home (after a couple of drinks with the food) about 10-10.30.

[lozzylizzy]

Just to add my 9yo went to bed at 7 yesterday voluntarily so they don't push their luck :)

[CauliflowerSqueeze]

I think it's far too late.

[GahBuggerit]

Were the same Modre, routine didn't suit us so the kids stay downstairs with us until they are tired, then i come up to bed with them, do story/chat depending on their mood then I leave them after about 10 mins. Within 5 they are zonked out. My friends react with a mixture of jealousy that it's not stressful as bedtimes can be sometimes and horror that im not particularly arsed about no "adult time".

I wouldn't have my 5yo on the street here, I live on a busy A road!

[Ellisandra]

Such little sleep?!
At 5, my child slept 21:30 to 07:30 - that's ten hours!
That's all she needed.
Fine at school. Occasional 22:30 had no knock on effect.
You can't judge them by your child

These kids could be like mine. Or the parents could be negligent. Who knows. But you simply can't assume every child has the same sleep needs as yours.

[WorraLiberty]

Or maybe the child won't be going to school tomorrow?

[RainbowsAndUnicorn]

Too late for a school day and far too young to be out unsupervised.

[coconuttella]

I don't think a 5 yo is old enough to be out 'on the street' without supervision at any time!

[Dishwashersaurous]

Coconut agree. It's not the being up, it's the being out.

I suspect that lots of people are having later bedtimes this week because the heat coinciding with longest days.

However, playing in the street is inevitably going to be noisy and thus disturb people.

[Ohyesiam]

It is mid summer night, and way to hot to sleep.

[moonrock108]

would you consider doing anything else than sleeping?

[Brighteyes27]

Agree with rainbows and unicorn. Our neighbors daughter 3 years younger than my DD used to drive us wild in summer. She was regularly out in the garden from age 3 shouting and bouncing on trampoline until well after 10 on a school night and out shouting and making loud carry on until well after midnight most weekend nights while parents drink and entertain their friends. Maybe ok for a one off but not regularly.
My older DS really needed his sleep and my DD was easily distracted complaining that x next door was still out and why couldn't she play out in the garden. This child used to call to her. The noise was so bad we had to close our patio doors (or we can barely hear the Tv) and since they moved in have felt unable to relax or sit out in our garden for the racket next door. My view is young Kids need their sleep especially on a school night and parents need some 'down time' . I had to go to work so had to be up and organised early. Next door laid in until the last minute and the daughter was always 5 -10 minutes late for school.

[RainbowBriteRules]

Wouldn't bother me.

[MycatsaPirate]

We live in a cul de sac with a lot of kids of varying ages.

On Saturday we were sat in the back garden and at 9.45pm realised that DD was still out the front playing - she's 11. Went to call her in and the street was still full of children all playing, throwing water, riding bikes and generally being kids. But that's fine, it was a Saturday evening. We still called her in though because despite them not being rowdy we are aware of other neighbours and no one wants to hear kids shouting or yelling at 10pm. On one side we have a very elderly neighbour and the other have two very young children who are generally in bed by about 7.30pm.

One a school night I don't think it's fair on other residents. Fine, if your child can't/won't sleep then let them stay up - but indoors. Because it's not fair to inflict your child on everyone else.

Mine didn't go to bed til nearly 10pm tonight but we had been down to the beach and then came home, showered and I sent her to bed.