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2007/08/20
Based on earlier reporting by Health Day News
Tips on keeping youngsters well-rested as fall term begins
Re-establishing children's sleep habits should be on parents' back-to-school to-do lists, along with new school supplies and clothing
Children tend to go to go to bed and wake up later during the summer, and altering this cycle can be difficult, says Dr. Anne-Marie Slinger, a professor of pediatrics at the University of Florida. Parents should try to get their children back into a school-year sleeping schedule at least one or two weeks before classes start.
If a child isn't properly prepared and doesn't get enough sleep, it can really affect their school performance.
"Sleep deprivation can have a pretty significant effect on concentration, memory and even mood. If a child is chronically sleep deprived, it's far more difficult for them to participate in classroom activities and learn new things. If they're tired, they won't be engaged," Slinger said.
In general, children require at least nine hours of uninterrupted sleep to be ready for learning.
"To help them prepare for a new school year, it's important to talk to kids so they know what to expect and to familiarize them with their daily schedule before the school year begins. There are a lot of things parents can do to ease that transition back to school," Slinger said.
For example, parents can schedule activities - such as brushing teeth, taking a bath, or reading a story - that assist the transition to bedtime.