After-school routine for kids: snack, bag, homework
Every important letter is at the bottom of the book bag.
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Bedtime routine for kids: a simple chart that ends the stalling
Debs · 15 October 2026
The short answer
A good bedtime routine for kids is the same short set of steps, in the same order, at roughly the same time every night: a wind-down, bath or wash, pyjamas, teeth, getting tomorrow's bag and clothes ready, a story, then lights out. Five or six steps is plenty. A simple chart they can tick, with a star for each step, does most of the reminding for you.
Bedtime in many houses is a negotiation with a very small lawyer. One more episode. One more drink. One more question about whether sharks have bones, asked at 8:47pm with total sincerity. A bedtime routine won't stop all of it, but it moves the arguing from "whether" to "what's next on the chart", which is a much easier argument to win.
A simple bedtime routine, step by step
Keep it short and in the same order every night. The order matters more than the exact time: children settle faster when they know what comes next.
- Wind down: screens off and lights lower, ideally an hour before bed.
- Bath or wash, pyjamas and teeth.
- Tomorrow, sorted: clothes out, bag packed, reading book in.
- A story or chat, then lights out at the usual time.
Children argue with parents. They argue much less with a chart.
Left: a short chart they can tick themselves. Right: the bag and clothes sorted the night before, which makes the morning half the battle.
Bedtimes by age
Primary-age children generally need somewhere around 9 to 12 hours' sleep a night, so work back from the time they need to wake up. For a 7am start, that usually means lights out between about 7pm and 8pm for younger children and a little later for older ones. Start the routine 30 to 45 minutes before lights out, so it doesn't feel rushed.
Keep it roughly the same at weekends, give or take half an hour, so Monday doesn't feel like jet lag. Older children can own more of it themselves, with the chart as the reminder rather than you. If sleep is a real struggle, talk to your GP or health visitor: a routine helps, but it isn't a cure for everything.
The night before is where good mornings are made.
The five-minute school-bag check
Put "bag packed" on the bedtime chart. Five minutes the night before (reading book, homework, water bottle, PE kit if it's PE day, the form that needs signing) saves the 8:10am search. Lay out tomorrow's clothes too: uniform, PE kit or non-uniform. The morning routine for kids then has half as many steps, and a reward chart turns the whole thing into stars. If your children like to see their day for themselves, a digital calendar for kids can show the routine too.
A bedtime routine chart
A starting point for a primary-age child. Adjust the times to suit your family.
| Step | Roughly | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Screens off, wind down | 60 minutes before lights out |
| 2 | Bath or wash, pyjamas | 40 minutes before |
| 3 | Teeth | 30 minutes before |
| 4 | Clothes out, bag packed | 25 minutes before |
| 5 | Story or chat, then lights out | 20 minutes before |
Mistakes we've all made
- A routine with twelve steps, abandoned on night three.
- Screens until the last minute, then wondering why nobody's sleepy.
- Leaving the school bag until the morning, when the reading book is nowhere.
- A different order every night, so every step is a new negotiation.
A bedtime routine that knows about tomorrow
Debs, your own school admin assistant, has bedtime routines with stars: each child ticks their steps on the family wall display or on their own iPad (with a 4-character PIN for My day), and spends their stars on rewards you set. The "Bag packed" step lists exactly what to pack for tomorrow, from the school's emails and the family calendar: PE kit, the reading book, the costume, the £1. See everything Debs can do.
Questions parents ask
What is a good bedtime routine for kids?
The same short set of steps in the same order every night: wind down, bath or wash, pyjamas, teeth, tomorrow's bag and clothes ready, a story, then lights out.
What time should my child go to bed?
Primary-age children generally need around 9 to 12 hours' sleep. Work back from when they need to wake up, and start the routine 30 to 45 minutes before lights out.
How long should a bedtime routine take?
About 30 to 45 minutes, plus switching screens off earlier. Shorter is fine, as long as it's the same each night.
Do bedtime routine charts work?
For many children, yes. A short chart they can tick, ideally with a star or small reward, moves the reminding from you to the chart.
Should children pack their school bag at night?
Yes, if you can. Packing the bag and laying out clothes the night before makes school mornings much calmer.