7yr old boy - sleeps very little. should I worry?

[DimpledThighs]

My ds often is still awake at 10.30 and tonight it was nealry 11.

We have a very consistent bed time routine with both settled in bed and storied by 8.30, but often he is still awake late in the evening. He does not watch tv or anything but I do allow him to listen to story tapes or read - otherwise he just shouts down to me that he is bored. I don't need much sleep as an adult but is this okay for a 7yr old?

He wakes at 7am, and will wake me up if I am not up yet. He does not seen tired at school or during the day and everything else seems fine.

It just seems like very little sleep for a growing boy.

Sounds like you have a good routine and I think letting him read is fine.
Maybe the story tapes may be a bit stimulating? If he has to change tapes/press buttons etc, it might be giving his mind a bit too much to think about when he should be drifting off.
Also have you thought about what he eats later in the day? Anything sugary will keep him alert.

On the other hand if he is not tired in the day and doesn't seem to have any symptoms from lack of sleep, maybe he just doesn't need as much sleep as other kids.

thank you that is very helpful. We don't have lots of sugar, but he does have a yoghurt or something after supper at about 6:30pm. Bedtime is a drink of milk and a slice of bread if hungry - but that is hardly ever. I will give it some thought though and look a bit more at his diet.

sounds like he just doesn't need lots of sleep

my dd1 also 7 is just the same, last night she was still awake at 10.30. She's got dh's old ipod and listens to stories on that. I don't think there's much we can do really as long as they are lying down and not messing about.

feel a bit better but could do without 'mummeeeeee!' at 10:30pm!