What do your 7 year olds do before bed?

[nyctoedi]

Childhood bedtime routine of bath at 7, story till 730 then lights out is unsurprisingly not cutting it any more with recently turned 7 DD.

We let her stay up later until 830 but for that hour and a half, she is unable to entertain herself and quite needy in terms of attention. We’ve got a playroom full of jigsaws, books, crafts etc but she wants to engage constantly while she is doing stuff or claims she is bored and keeps asking what she can do. We’ve said she can only stay up if she entertains herself with something quiet (ie no screens or TV) but it’s not working and generally ends up with us “reminding” her every 5 minutes that it’s quiet time.

Any suggestions on switch to letting them stay up later in a way that keeps everyone sane? She definitely needs the later bedtime.

Ds dropped evening bath for morning shower around 7-8yrs old, but still went to bed for an hour before lights out to read until much much older. Age 7 we were still reading with him.

She goes to bed at half 7 but can stay up for an hour reading, drawing etc. on a weekend she can stay up till 10 and watch a film.

What worked for mine was to get them into their bedroom about an hour before bed. I’d read to them etc. Then the choice is that they can either go to sleep, or read or draw or play quietly with toys.

Reading is our only before bed activity. We read for around half an hour with DD. If she wants to read a little longer then she can.

But it's in bed with the big light off and a little clip on reading light so she's not getting overstimulated.

My almost 7 and 8 year olds go to bed at 7.30-8 but they read for half an hour or so in bed. What are you doing during this time? We watch TV together sometimes, Taskmaster, Bake off, Sancing on ice and Sewing bee are favourites.

We are usually reading, watching a box set that wouldnt be suitable for a 7 year old, having discussions that wouldn’t be suitable for 7 year old to be around (work, finances, family or other mundane adult chat!) or just relaxing…I’m an early to bedder…often 9/930 and finding the encroaching on my own quiet time difficult to adjust to.

I think adult time in the evening just becomes more and more scarce the older they get! At 7 I think entertaining herself for an hour and half is a big ask to be honest, (unless you're happy to compromise on tv). Could you do something together until 8 and then she can read in bed?

My ds is 7 in n a couple of weeks. Dinner finished by 6.30 then we have family time for 45 mins, whether it be building Lego or watching something. He helps water garden if needed or plays with our cat.

Bath/shower and PJs and into our bed by 7.45 for him reading to us then a couple of others read by us. Lights out by 8.30, he's asleep by 8.45.

Same for weekend as we don't change routine.

We start couple time then and it's scarce. I wouldn't banish my boy to his room so I could watch adult TV. Just wouldn't be right but you do what's best for you.

I’m an early to bedder…often 9/930 and finding the encroaching on my own quiet time difficult to adjust to.

Reading with ds in bed at that age, taking turns reading pages WAS my quiet time. I would much rather do that than talk about finances or work!

If you put in the time now it won't be long before they are independently reading the likes of harry potter etc, and have a good nightly reading habit before lights out.