A new study has found that school-age children who averaged an additional 27 minutes more sleep a night fared better in school the next day. According to a CNN report, the children who got the extra sleep had more control of their emotions and were more alert in class.
The study looked at 34 students who ranged in age from seven to 11 years. The kids were reportedly healthy and did not have sleep problems or behavior or academic issues. Over the span of one school week, half the kids were put to bed earlier than usual, giving them about 27 additional minutes of sleep each night. The other half went to bed later than their usual bedtime, losing about 54 minutes of sleep each night.
The teachers — who were unaware of the kids' sleep status — reported marked differences in the children's behavior and coping skills with everyday challenges. The students who received less sleep each night seemed overly tired and were also found to be more impulsive and irritable than their well-rested classmates. On the other hand, the children who got the extra sleep were found to have had better control of their emotions and were more alert in class.
I know how hard it can be to cope when you don't get enough sleep; as a working mother, I struggle daily with not only my own lack of sleep but with my kids' sleep schedules as well. I have found that setting a good bedtime routine (and sticking with it!) can make a big difference in my and my kids' mood the following morning. We make sure to follow the same routine each night, including a warm bath, reading a few stories, and singing bedtime songs, then dimming the lights and settling in for a good night's sleep. The routine is kept the same whether we are at home or traveling.
What's your best tip for making sure your kids get the sleep they need? Leave a comment below.
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