The answer appears to be yes. Whether earlier or later in the evening, a regular bedtime helps children.
British parents were questioned when their children were 3, 5 and 7 years of age. Researchers found the younger the child, the less regular the bedtime. By age 7, most children went to sleep at the same time each night.
Children who go to bed at a regular time did better in school performance. For some children, bedtimes remained irregular. The school performance of these children went down.
The author of the study said getting kids into a regular bedtime routine also has a positive impact on their psychological development.
It is never too late to start getting children into bed at a regular time.
And, as an expert noted, getting children to bed at a regular time certainly helps the parents.
Source: The New York Times October14, 2013