The Importance of Sleep and School

Experts say children ages 5 to 12 need 10 to 11 hours of sleep a night. Studies also show that most kids are getting about an hour less sleep each night than they did 30 years ago.

Children have a lot more distractions than they did 30 years ago including more activities, homework, TV and video games. It’s easy to understand how today’s kids have a hard time winding down at night. You might be wondering if your child is getting enough sleep. Well, here are some signs that they might need more:

• Behavior Changes – when your child doesn’t get enough sleep it can become difficult for them to control their emotions. This can result in emotional outburst, grumpiness and poor behavior.

• Attention Issues – if your child is normally a good listener but they begin having difficulty following detailed instructions or maintaining focus during activities, this could be a sign of a lack of sleep.

• Memory Loss – sleep is like a reset button for your child. During sleep, everything learned during the day is committed to memory and the brain is prepared to absorb more information the next day. If your child shows a change in remembering directions or information this could be a sign of not getting enough sleep.

What can you do to help your child get more sleep?

• Establish a bedtime routine for your child and stick to it. Make sure your child get’s to bed around the same time every night.

• Give your child time to unwind. Turn off the TV, video games and eliminate distractions 15 to 20 minutes before bedtime.