SLEEP
The first day of school is almost half finished! Anyone have a difficult time getting up this morning? I know I am still working on getting to bed earlier. Switching back to school mode can be a difficult transition. Sleep is INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT! Here is a great article discussing the HUGE impact sleep has on school!
Know! Sleep Impacts School
Success
For students everywhere,
saying goodbye to summer break meansalso saying goodbye to their summer sleep
schedule of staying up late and snoozing until lunchtime. For tweens and teens,
this transition is especially challenging. Their body clocks are programmed to
stay up later and sleep in later. And while it may be a struggle, sleep is
an essential element for school success.
How much is enough? According to the National Sleep Foundation, the updated
recommended range for school-age children (ages 6 – 13) is 9-11 hours of sleep;
and teens (ages 14-17) are said to need 8-10 hours of sleep.
For many families, these numbers may seem unrealistic, given their child’s school, work and extra-curricular activities schedule. Try motivating your child to improve his/her sleep habits with this list
of sleep benefits – it just may catch their attention.
Getting the recommended amount of ZZZ’s can:
Improve Memory: Whether you’re studying for a math test or
trying to memorize the steps to a new dance routine, you practice it over and over. But learning does not end when the lights go out. Your mind is
surprisingly active during a good night’s sleep. It works to absorb those math
strategies or dance moves and strengthens your ability to remember them when you
awake.
Spur Creativity: If you’re having trouble coming up with a creative
idea, experts say, “Sleep on it.” During a quality night’s snooze, the
brain reorganizes and restructures your memory, aiding in creativity.
Sharpen Attention: Sleep deprivation affects adults and youth differently. While lack of sleep may cause mom and dad to feel sleepy,
it can result in ADHD-like symptoms for youth (aka: slap-happy). Getting the
needed amount of sleep helps a student to sit still and focus their attention in
school.
Improve Athletic Performance: Yes, games are won on the
practice
field. But in addition to practice and hard work, a key factor in
improving athletic performance is SLEEP! A Stanford University study found
that college football players who tried to sleep at least 10 hours a night
over a seven to eight week period, improved their average sprint time, had less
daytime fatigue and increased stamina.
Improve Your Mood: Insufficient sleep can leave a person
feeling
irritable, anxious, short-tempered, depressed, stressed and/or
mentally exhausted. No one wants to feel this way or be around someone who acts
this way. On the other hand, a good night’s sleep increases your chances of
getting up on, “the right side of the bed.”
Help Control Your Appetite: Sleep and metabolism are
controlled
by the same part of the brain. Sleep deprived fatigue can trigger an
increase of hormones in your blood – the same ones that drive
appetite.
Sleep is food for the brain, and when our children’s minds are not
properly fed with the sleep they need, they may suffer academically,
mentally, emotionally and/or physically. While it is not always easy
for youth to achieve the nightly recommended hours of sleep, it is
imperative, as their parents and caregivers, that we help them get as
close to it as possible, as many nights as possible.
For tips on achieving healthy sleep, visit: http://sleepfoundation.org/
Sources: Active Kids: Back to School: Why Your Kids Need Their
Sleep. Health: 11 Surprising Health Benefits of Sleep. National Sleep
Foundation: How much sleep do we really need?
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