A consistent bedtime schedule signals the brain and body that it’s time to wind down. It makes it easier to fall asleep, stay asleep and wake up feeling rested. For students, it is key to stay focused and attentive in class.
Before the school season starts again, experts recommend easing kids back into a routine.
“We don't say ‘ get good sleep ’ just because,” said Gabrina Dixon, a paediatrician at Children's National Hospital in the United States. “It really helps kids learn and it helps them function throughout the day.”
The amount of sleep kids need changes as they age. While preschoolers should get up to 13 hours of sleep, tweens need between nine and 12 hours, and teenagers do best with eight to 10 hours of shut-eye.
When children don’t get enough sleep, they can have difficulty paying attention in class, experience daytime sleepiness, have lower energy levels and become irritable.
