Keeping Kids Healthy During the School Year
Poor or inadequate sleep can lead to decreased attentiveness, mood swings, behavioral problems, and decreased short-term memory and response time. All of these things can affect a child’s health and ability to learn. Most experts suggest between 10 and 11 hours of sleep per night for children aged 5 to 12. Teens need about 8.5 to 9.5 hours of sleep per night. Returning to school means more homework, sports and after-school activities. Mix in TV, computers and video games, and you have a recipe for too little sleep.
Some tips include the following:
- Keeping a regular and consistent sleep schedule and bedtime routine
- Making your child's bedroom conducive to sleep — dark, cool and quiet
- Keeping TVs and computers out of the bedroom
- Avoiding caffeine, especially five to six hours before bedtime
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Review Date:
September 4, 2014Citation:
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Last Updated:
September 4, 2014