People are generally creatures of habit. We tend to follow the same routine for certain aspects of our day. For example, our bed time routine will most likely follow a pattern every night. We might end our evening with a cup of tea, watch a TV show, have a shower and clean our teeth, get into the bed on the same side every night, read our Bible and even lie in the same position to fall asleep.
The same can be said for morning routines for children. For children, a routine for going to bed usually encourages a peaceful night’s sleep. Studies have shown that going to sleep and waking up at approximately the same time each night and day may support positive behaviour.
“School-age kids need 9–12 hours of sleep a night. Bedtime problems can start at this age for a variety of reasons. Homework, sports and after-school activities, screen time (on computers, TVs, smartphones, and other devices), and hectic family schedules all can contribute to kids not getting the sleep they need.