As school and social plans grow, sleep can get squeezed. Use age ranges as a starting point for a conversation about the family schedule.

School-age children need regular sleep

The recommended daily sleep range for ages six through twelve is nine to twelve hours.

THE POINT TO REMEMBER

CDC lists nine to twelve hours for children aged six to twelve.

Sources: CDC · About Sleep ↗

Teens still need substantial sleep

For ages thirteen through seventeen, the recommended daily range is eight to ten hours.

THE POINT TO REMEMBER

Teenagers aged thirteen to seventeen generally need eight to ten hours.

Sources: CDC · About Sleep ↗

Discuss persistent sleep problems

Ongoing sleep trouble or tiredness despite enough sleep deserves a conversation with a healthcare professional.

THE POINT TO REMEMBER

Sleep quality matters as well as time spent asleep.

Sources: CDC · About Sleep ↗

Read it. Try it. Come back to why.

Original reflection: work backwards from the next school-day wake-up time to discuss room for sleep. Ask the child or teen which part of the evening feels hardest to change.

Practise all 3 questions →