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Original poster

To let my 7 year old stay up to watch the England game?

193 replies

moryn · 17/06/2026 14:49

9pm kick off tonight, the first England game of the World Cup.

I have some great memories from the World Cup when I was a child. It’s once every four years…

Should I, or is it ridiculous?

OP posts:
Pinkdayss · 17/06/2026 19:46

Absolutely. These moments mean so much to children.
Just agree that he tells you if he is tired and needs to go to bed.
One offs like this are so special.

cauliflowerforever · 17/06/2026 19:44

One of my sons was 7 in 2002 and he can remember being allowed to stay up for England matches ( even if he bailed out by half time ) it was definitely somewhere with a huge time difference. Children have amazing memories ! Fair to say he was not affected long term by a few late nights !

Lordofthebantams · 17/06/2026 19:25

He will be absolutely shattered the rest of the week at school. Definite no.

ObelixtheGaul · 17/06/2026 19:25

I'm not bothered about the footie, although I do get more into it later in the tournament. I have, however, the best memories of being allowed to stay up to watch Torvill and Dean the night they got all the sixes for 'Bolero'.

If he's really into it, I'd let him.

BeaLola · 17/06/2026 19:13

My DS is now older bit yes I would have let him stay up at 7 for this

but then I love watching sport and have fond memories of my Dad taking me out to see the European Football finals backin the late 70s - we got a bus there and back with fish and chips to eat on the way home -very fond memories

SerendipityJane · 17/06/2026 19:08

Rizzz · 17/06/2026 17:30

Also beside the point but I've lost count of the amount of posters on this thread who have assumed the OP's child is a boy 😳

#everydaysexism - we're all guilty 😀

EvieBB · 17/06/2026 18:40

I can't stand football and won't be watching any of it....lol

Ilovemyfam · 17/06/2026 18:39

moryn · 17/06/2026 14:49

9pm kick off tonight, the first England game of the World Cup.

I have some great memories from the World Cup when I was a child. It’s once every four years…

Should I, or is it ridiculous?

I would let them stay up. Or in other games, if it was a middle of the night kick off, I would say that they could set the alarm for 6 am and watch before they watch the news (that is what I am doing).

What I would insist on is that they are completely prepared for school. Uniform ready, school bag packed and lunchbox at the ready. You are then allowing them to have fun but also teach a bit of responsibility. If it goes pear shaped tomorrow morning you know what to do next time.

SliceofTosst · 17/06/2026 18:35

Yes. It's a treat, not something regular.

user293948849167 · 17/06/2026 18:21

Yes why not, he might get tired or bored by half time and go to bed but if not it’s only a one off

GreenCaterpillarOnALeaf · 17/06/2026 18:20

Eideann · 17/06/2026 18:16

I do object to " playing fucking bagpipes" as somehow injurious. 🙉

Ye cannae possibly say it made yer ears bleed @GreenCaterpillarOnALeaf, surely not 😉😁

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They’re supposed to ward off evil spirits aren’t they? That could be part of the issue. 👹👹👹

It was also the early hours and it woke up DD2 who doesn’t seem to be a fan, probably because she’s inherited my demonic tendencies.

Eideann · 17/06/2026 18:16

GreenCaterpillarOnALeaf · 17/06/2026 16:58

Also to be fair depending on where you live he may well be woken up by the noise if they win. There’s no way our kids would have slept through the noise of the Scotland game someone was playing fucking bagpipes down the road 😭😭. We do live pretty city centre though so again depends where you live.

I do object to " playing fucking bagpipes" as somehow injurious. 🙉

Ye cannae possibly say it made yer ears bleed @GreenCaterpillarOnALeaf, surely not 😉😁

PurpleThistle7 · 17/06/2026 18:11

Rizzz · 17/06/2026 17:30

Also beside the point but I've lost count of the amount of posters on this thread who have assumed the OP's child is a boy 😳

I (am almost positive) was very careful not to assume. The most football mad child I know if my daughter’s best friend (who is a girl). No assumptions on my part!

DontBuyAnotherBook · 17/06/2026 18:07

Rizzz · 17/06/2026 17:30

Also beside the point but I've lost count of the amount of posters on this thread who have assumed the OP's child is a boy 😳

So many girls are into football and play football yet my girl gets comments from boys who don't believe she plays. Just stupid.

Daffodilsinthespring · 17/06/2026 17:39

A 7 year old - definitely not.

12 year old - maybe if they wanted to.

ClassicalQueen · 17/06/2026 17:34

I would let mine stay up if they asked but they haven’t, so we will be recording it and watching it in the morning when we get up. We’re getting up a little earlier and will watch it as if it’s the live match.

HelenaWilson · 17/06/2026 17:33

The arbitrary classism of 'Benidorm' combined with the baseless assumption that a holiday in Spain couldn't be a good experience, or involve family bonding time. And why is a trip to Boston to football only for fathers and sons?

You are the one being classist. You are the one making assumptions about people who go to Benidorm.

My point is that anyone can go and have family bonding time at Benidorm at any time. It's not an experience that might come round once in twenty years or more. And the vast majority of Scottish supporters in Boston are men and all the children I've seen have been boys.

Rizzz · 17/06/2026 17:30

Also beside the point but I've lost count of the amount of posters on this thread who have assumed the OP's child is a boy 😳

Rizzz · 17/06/2026 17:28

Not that you bothered coming back but...

It's just not a question to ask strangers, is it?

You know you're own child, you know whether it will affect them negatively or whether it won't affect them at all.

This is a decision only parents can make.

SerendipityJane · 17/06/2026 17:23

Crunchymum · 17/06/2026 17:15

It won't go to extra time in the group games.

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That brings back a memory from '86 when the group game finished in a draw and the teams just walked off.

"Shouldn't there be extra time ?" I asked.

Ouch <blush emoji>

Cel77 · 17/06/2026 17:22

moryn · 17/06/2026 14:49

9pm kick off tonight, the first England game of the World Cup.

I have some great memories from the World Cup when I was a child. It’s once every four years…

Should I, or is it ridiculous?

Maybe your boy will be ok getting up for school and getting through the day. Mine is 10, we let him watch the France/Senegal game which finished at 10 pm ish . He's struggled so much getting up , we didn't get to school in the end and I had to take a day off work to stay with him. He's autistic and struggles with sleep, thirst, food and noise aspects of everyday life so it might be different for yours.
I'm not going to allow him again unless it's a weekend !!!

hay5689 · 17/06/2026 17:18

Yes let him stay up! It’s once every four years and he’s got time to catch up on his sleep tomorrow night. There’s probably going to be lots of tired kids in English schools tomorrow (and teachers) so he’ll be in good company.

Simonjt · 17/06/2026 17:16

Crunchymum · 17/06/2026 17:15

It won't go to extra time in the group games.

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This shows I need to work on my football knowledge!

Crunchymum · 17/06/2026 17:15

Simonjt · 17/06/2026 17:06

We’re letting our ten year old stay up, however it will be 10pm here, so he’ll go to bed at half time and we’ll play the second half the next morning while he gets ready for school, so fingers crossed it doesn’t go into extra time.

It won't go to extra time in the group games.

DontBuyAnotherBook · 17/06/2026 17:09

AmusedMember · 17/06/2026 16:14

I said no to my almost 12 year old, now I'm rethinking.

Why did you say no?