Kids Need Enough Sleep to Succeed at School

Age Matters for Adequate Sleep

Although many kids stay up late on long sum­mer days, once school starts they should return to their normal sleep routines, ex­perts say.

Adequate sleep is essential to a child’s academic success and overall well-being. Researchers say that 3- to 5-year-olds need at least 11 to 13 hours of shut-eye per night. Five to 12-year-olds need at least 10 or 11 hours a night.

From memory to judg­ment, attention span, emotional stability and even immunity, sleep de­privation negatively af­fects school-age children.

As for adolescents, it’s a common myth that they need less sleep and can handle only seven or eight hours. They actually need nine hours of sleep. Ado­lescents are typically the most sleep-deprived age group in school.

A poll by the National Sleep Foundation revealed that 60 percent of children under the age of 18 com­plained of being tired dur­ing the day. Moreover, 15 percent admitted to fall­ing asleep at school.

Ditch the Devices

Anticipating the first weeks of school, experts say children should start go­ing to bed earlier to avoid these feelings of daytime sleepiness and ensure a smooth transition back to the classroom.

Since missed hours of sleep can add up and have detrimental effects on children, experts recom­mend that parents remove electronic devices from their child’s room, mak­ing it as calm and peace­ful as possible.

On average, there are three to four electronic gadgets in a kid’s room. Research shows that even sleeping with a televi­sion on deprives a child of 20 minutes of sleep per night. That may not sound like a lot, but adds up over a week’s time.

We’re Here to Help

If your child is having trouble sleeping, talk to your primary care provider. For older adolescents and adults, the services at Covenant Health Slieep Centers may be helpful. Contact a location near you for information.