Students need their rest

At the start of the school year, many children are excited about going back to school. This excitement can help them wake up earlier and overcome any feelings of tiredness.

But, for children who are not looking forward to school, sleepiness creates problems, according to the National Sleep Foundation.

“Sleep is food for the brain,” says Russell Rosenberg, Ph.D., director of the Northside Hospital Sleep Medicine Institute. “Lack of sleep can affect school performance substantially.”

Other consequences of poor sleep in children include low grades, negative moods, an increased likelihood of stimulant use and even unintentional injuries and death.

According to a 1999 survey from the Sleep Foundation, 15 percent of children under 18 reported falling asleep at school and 60 percent reported being tired during the day.

In general, children require at least 8.5 hours of sleep each night. But only 15 percent of children reported sleeping 8.5 or more hours on school nights.

Parents can help their children get ready for school by educating themselves about their children’s sleep needs, talking with them about the importance of a good night’s sleep and being a good role model through practicing good sleep habits themselves.

Tips for getting your child back into the school groove:

Rosenberg suggests starting to prepare for the new school year a week in advance. “Start getting back into a routine by waking your child up each day approximately a half hour earlier than when they woke up the previous day,” he says. “By the day before school starts, your child should wake up no more than one hour after their normal school year wake time.”
Having a fixed bedtime is very important. Children often will try to get their parents let them stay up later for one more story, one more hug, or one more glass of water. Parents need to set boundaries; children need a set bedtime, a routine, and a clear indication of which behaviors are acceptable and which are not.

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