Back to School in Benin: 5 Steps to Reset Children’s Sleep Before September 14

The 2026-2027 school year is set to begin on Monday, September 14 in Benin. With just a few days before the start, families still have some time to adjust the children’s sleep schedules to the school routine without abrupt changes.

After the holidays, late bedtimes and shifted wake-up times are common. However, asking a child to get up suddenly much earlier the day before school starts is likely to leave them tired. Sleep specialists instead recommend gradually adjusting bedtime and wake-up times.

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine generally recommends 10 to 13 hours of sleep per 24 hours for children aged 3 to 5 years, 9 to 12 hours for those aged 6 to 12 years, and 8 to 10 hours for adolescents aged 13 to 18 years. The goal is not to impose the same bedtime on everyone, but to establish a schedule compatible with the required wake-up time on school days.

5 Simple Steps to Get Back into the School Routine

1. Move bedtime forward in small steps. If the child falls asleep much later than during the school term, moving bedtime forward by 15 to 30 minutes each evening is generally easier to manage than a two-hour change all at once. Wake-up time can be adjusted in the same way.

2. Maintain a regular wake-up time. A relatively stable wake-up time helps reset the biological clock. The weekend before returning to school, it is better to avoid letting the difference become too large compared to the schedule planned for school days.

3. Rely on light and activity in the morning. Opening the shutters, going outside for a few minutes, or starting the day in a bright environment helps signal to the body that the day is beginning. Regular physical activity during the day can also promote more natural sleep in the evening.

4. Keep screens away before bedtime. Phones, tablets, television, and video games easily maintain alertness. Pediatric guidelines recommend creating a calm period before sleep, ideally without electronic devices for at least the last hour.

5. Establish a short and repetitive ritual. Shower, preparation of the next day’s belongings, reading or calm conversation: repeating the same actions each evening helps the child recognize bedtime. Heavy meals, caffeinated drinks, and highly stimulating activities late in the evening should be avoided.

A useful transition also to reduce back-to-school stress

Sleep does not resolve all concerns related to returning to school, but a more predictable routine can make mornings less stressful. Parents can also talk with the child about what they expect from the start of the school year, any potential worries, and the organization of the first days.

In Benin, the pre-entry week from September 7 to 11 precedes the actual resumption of classes. It is therefore a practical window to gradually adjust family schedules, alongside other preparations for the 2026-2027 school year.

If a child regularly snores loudly, experiences breathing pauses, has persistent difficulty falling asleep, or remains very drowsy during the day despite sufficient sleep time, medical advice is recommended. These signs go beyond a simple shift in rhythm related to holidays.