According to a 2026 study, kids who sleep less than 9 hours are 2.5 times more likely to develop anxiety or depression. I’m not saying bedtime is a vaccine, but it’s close. So if your 10-year-old fights you at 8:45 p.m., remember: you’re not being a tyrant—you’re being a brain bodyguard. And tomorrow morning, when they’re chipper and you’re still on your third coffee, you’ll know it was worth every battle.
One last joke for the road: Why do 10-year-olds stay up late? Because they’re secretly training for the teenage years, when 3 a.m. becomes “early.” Good luck. You’ll need it.
