Now that the 2010 school year has begun, you may already be fighting the up-hill battle to get your child to adhere to his or her bedtime.
Although sleep schedules tend to be more relaxed during the summer, it is important that children get the sleep they need during the school year. According to ABC news, getting a good night’s sleep may be the most powerful predictor of children’s performance in school. New research shows that children who had established bedtimes had higher math and literacy skills.
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine also reports that poor sleep in children can also lead to emotional and behavioral problems. According to a study published in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, children who get less sleep than their peers have a higher risk of anxiety, depression and aggressive behavior towards adults.
Sleep deprivation in children is also associated with increased risk for heart problems, including obesity, diabetes and heart disease.
As children age, their nightly sleep needs change.
Children between the ages of 3 to 11 months require 14 to 15 hours
Toddlers: 12 to14 hours
Preschool children: 11 to 13 hours
School-age children: 10 to 11 hours
In order to ensure that your child gets the sleep he or she needs, it may be helpful to establish and enforce a regular bedtime routine. Children should go to bed and wake up at the same time every day, even on the weekends. The National Sleep Foundation recommends that parents teach school-age children about the importance of sleep and keep electronics such as television, video games, cell phones and MP3 players out of the bedroom.
Although it’s common for children to resist going to bed at bedtime, it is not normal for them to be incapable of falling asleep on their own. If your child consistently struggles to fall asleep at night, she or he may be suffering from a sleep disorder. Visit our new pediatric sleep page to learn more about how sleep disorders can affect children.
