How late should kids stay up at night during the summer?

Question

How about during the day? Here's an example, sleep for most of it, get up to eat, sleep, stay in the room (don't go outside for a swim, walk, etc.), then get up about 7 or 8 p.m., go into the kitchen about 9 or 10 or 11, eat, then stay up again until 3,4 or 5 in the morning. The daily routine includes; reading a book, sleeping, computer games, writing. What happens if the electricity is turned off?

Do parents realize that kids are starting behavior patterns right now and that poor sleeping and eating habits are being formed?

Has anybody had an adverse affect for having a loose schedule as a teenager?

Answer 1

A couple months of sleeping all day and staying up all night is not going to affect their life-time sleep habits.  It's just a phase, and it's only for a short time.  Once school starts, they'll be able to get right back into a normal sleeping and eating pattern.  I did the same thing when I was a teenager, and I don't feel any adverse affects.

My own teenagers, however, aren't allowed to sleep their summers away.  But not because I'm worried about them forming bad sleep habits.  I just don't want them to waste their precious summer laying around doing nothing.  So I make sure they have a reason to get up at a decent hour.  I keep them involved in sports, volunteer work and other activities throughout the summer.  Once they're up and going, they're up for the day. They still have plenty of time to relax by themselves or hang out with friends, but they go to bed each night having enjoyed some sunshine and feeling like they've accomplished something worthwhile.  And that's a habit I definitely want them to develop!

Answer 2

I simply don't understand what the amazing attraction is for being up when it's dark and sleeping during the daytime. What do they think they're doing? Proving their maturity? Hardly. Adults don't do it.

Answer 3

I did that when i was on summer break from school and when i graduated i ended up with a night job so it actually helped me being use to those hours and then when i had my first son I did better than some because i was use to function on a different sleep pattern.  I just find some people function better at night while others do better during the day.

Answer 4

as a teenager i stayed up late all the time during the summer and then slept until noon or later. i would then eat something, be online, and hang out in my room for most of the day/night. the cycle would then repeat itself. my mom wasn't too pleased with it but i did it anyway. i'm more of a night person. now, years later i still prefer being up at night and sleeping in if my schedule permits it. perhaps its not the best pattern and teens should engage in a more active lifestyle, but as for adverse effects? well, i turned out fine and got mostly A's throughout high school and college so it didnt negatively affect me. i'd say its okay during the summer and okay to stay up during the school year if they can handle being tired and still do well in school! also, its safer that they're at home sleeping and staying in their room than out with friends all the time doing god knows what. so, in a sense its not necessarily a bad thing! good luck!

Answer 5

Well I'm on a sleeping schedule where I don't go to sleep till about 9am and don't get up till around 3 or 4. I like it, when I have something to do like go to the bank or babysit I do manage to get up and do it successfully. It's summer what the big deal, staying up till 4am during the school year isn't a big deal to many people. I'm a night person not a day person, its when I do my work the best think the best and normally enjoy myself more. Summer break is to relax, once you get older you rarely have that luxury so enjoy it while you can, stay up all night sleep all day. There actually doing educational stuff like reading and writing most people I knows only idea of that is their msn conversations.

Answer 6

i stay up till 4:00 AM because of my laptop (im an addict to the computer ;____;) sometimes its 5:00, then wake up at around 3:00 - 2:00 PM, play with my dog, hang out with friends, draw, eat, watch tv, then its more computer ;____; ...

summer has no life..

Answer 7

if u think about it .. summer is like what ur normal life would kinda be when ur older, cuz u wont have school... and just because it is summer break doesnt mean he gets to slack off...he needs to get out more

Answer 8

I am a night owl by nature.  I have always had a lil more activity than you describe, but I generally go to sleep at about 4-7 am, and sleep til anywhere from noon til about 1 pm.  Now, if you count that, its 8-9 hours, which is the recommened amount, just at a different time of day than you.

As a teen, I did what you describe all the time.  I figure, it wont be long til they have a real job and cant do that kind of thing anymore, so why not let them.

Keep in mind, that like me, some people are natural night owls.  Even if I go to bed at 9p and get up at 6a, I am just flat out not functional until after 12.

Answer 9

i stay up all night and sleep all day.cause that's when everybody's asleep,so i can do what i want.

not healthy,but whatev

Answer 10

well its summer its like a big break from school. school is way different from 10 years ago. summer break and sleeping in is so relaxing. but my internal clock gets twisted really. im always tired from sleeping too much after staying up too late. but there is just now way, i body wont fall asleep until 2 or sometimes later and wont wake up until 12 or 1 in the afternoon.

its nice during summer but makes it that much harder to go back to school going to bed and waking up early!

Answer 11

ok. You kids should stay up no later than about 10:30 11:00. Because once they get use to that pattern they are going to want tostay up lte on school nights.It is good that they write get them into maro activities so they will wake up early do the activities come home eat shower watch some tv then they go to bed your schedual should be nice and firm. And every nowand then you should lets them slip up on the schedual.

Answer 12

Summer break is just that.  I work nights and my two kids (4 yrs. and 1 yr.) are more on my schedule than anything.  Get up about 9:30 am and bed around 10 or 11pm.  They are doing just fine even at a young age.

Answer 13

late as they want lay up its summer time the only time they can stay up just do it for the summer