How much sleep do your 8 year olds need?

[popmimiboo]

My 8.5 year old is very active (10 hours/ week gymnastics plus general playing out etc.) However I really think she does not sleep enough.
Routine is 8pm up to bed, reading with me til 8.15, reading alone til 8.30, lights off.

9pm I have to remind her to switch off light.
9.10, down for drink, loo etc
9.30, still faffing about, tell her that's enough and to get to sleep
9.55, crying that she's not tired...

She's rarely asleep before 10pm. We wake her for school at 7.30 and she's fine. On weekends she'll sleep til 8ish. She sometimes seems tired in the evening but never manages to sleep any earlier despite this. She never appears to be tired during the day despite the late nights. This isn't new, she was a great baby but has been a pain at bedtime since she was 2. How common is this? My eldest two were out for the count at 8pm at her age!

Well I have a 9 year old DD who goes to bed about 10 and gets up about 6 maybe half 6 to do her pony before school and isn't that tired or affected throughout the day, just maybe a bit yawny going down the field but I am too. I think it just depends on the child. Her brother is 11 and goes to bed about the same time but rolls out his pit at 8am for school but would sleep till noon if I let him.

My ds (also 8.5) has to be in bed by 8:30 but then reads until 9 or later. He wakes around 6. Very, very occasionally it will be nearer 7am.

I always use this as a guide but obviously every child is different. www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Childrenssleep/Pages/howmuchsleep.aspx As long as your daughter isn't grumpy or tired maybe she just needs less sleep. My son is 7 and still needs 12 hours a night but my daughter who is 6 manages on 10 hours.