Nightmares and night terrors may occur. School-aged children require less sleep as they get older. Their need drops down to 10 hours a day. The child's age, activity level, and health status strongly influence the amount of sleep needed. Bedtime rituals and later bedtimes reduce resistance.
Common fears are fear of the dark, strange noises, intruders, or imagined ideas.
Nightmares and night terrors may continue. Teenagers get sleepy later than preteens and often have trouble falling asleep. They often complain of being tired upon return from school, and like to sleep-in on the weekends. Puberty brings changes to their sleep-wake cycle. Marathon snoozes are common at this age.