It's summer do your older teens have a bedtime?

[JadenLayne]

My 15 year old doesn't have a bedtime, HOWEVER the only internet access is in the Den and he is not allowed on the internet after we are in bed. When we go to bed, he goes to his bedroom. He has Cable T.V. , Stereo (as long as we can't hear it), games and his cell phone to text if he wants. I think thats plenty! Usually when he stays up late it's to watch movies though and talk to his girlfriend.

 

[Belle2667]

We don't have a bedtime for our boys for the summer, but a word of caution to parents who don't care how long their teens are up as long as they can sleep as I felt the same way until last summer.

DH got up one night to get a drink and caught my then DS15 as he was sneaking out of the house at 1AM. (DS even had a "dummy" in his bed to make it look like he was there. It was the cologne that gave him away.) Apparently it wasn't the first time he had left.

So, this year, while I don't enforce a bedtime, we have installed door alarms (because we installed a pool this year ) . I know where there's a will, there's a way, but I think the punishment (no electronics of any kind and bedroom door removed for the rest of the summer) last year was enough (hopefully!) to stop it from happening again.

 

[JoyLuck]

I know it has pretty much all been said here, but I will add my own thoughts. We have 17 and 13 y.o. daughters. Our 17 y.o. is a night owl and loves the computer, she can stay on until midnight, (I don't force her to sleep, but she has to be doing something constructive after that, reading etc). I am most surprised that most other kids her age here have their own computers and NO limit to the amount of time they can spend on. We do our best to set reasonable limits, but most times are considered 'meanies'.

Our 13 y.o. has NO interest in the computer, but likes the later evening Disney channel shows, so she stays up until 11 pm unless a movie is in progress. I think that the OP is correct in that very soon, these older kids have to make their own decisions about this, give reasonable guidelines, but some 'leeway' is a good idea.

The only thing I am really adamant about is getting up at a reasonable time, and either working a few hours each week or doing something helpful each day...along with having 'summer fun'!

 

[funhouse8]

We don't have a bedtime for our boys for the summer, but a word of caution to parents who don't care how long their teens are up as long as they can sleep as I felt the same way until last summer.

DH got up one night to get a drink and caught my then DS15 as he was sneaking out of the house at 1AM. (DS even had a "dummy" in his bed to make it look like he was there. It was the cologne that gave him away.) Apparently it wasn't the first time he had left.

So, this year, while I don't enforce a bedtime, we have installed door alarms (because we installed a pool this year ) . I know where there's a will, there's a way, but I think the punishment (no electronics of any kind and bedroom door removed for the rest of the summer) last year was enough (hopefully!) to stop it from happening again.

I love the idea about the door! Great punishment, I hope it worked.

 

[funhouse8]

Well last night I let them stay up. We will see what time they wake up today. Hopefully it will before supper.

 

[Hannathy]

Oh they'll wake up to eat!!! Just lay in a supply of Ramen and your good to go.