Now that kids are back in class, participating in extracurricular activities and then doing homework at night, it can be easy for them to miss out on sleep.
If they do, it can take a big toll.
According to the National Institutes of Health, insufficient sleep is linked to reduced short-term memory and learning ability, negative mood, and poor productivity, among other things.
So how do you know how much sleep your kid should be getting?
It depends on their age.
Here’s a breakdown from NIH:
| Age | Recommended Amount of Sleep |
|---|---|
| Newborns | 16–18 hours a day |
| Preschool-aged children | 11–12 hours a day |
| School-aged children | At least 10 hours a day |
| Teens | 9–10 hours a day |
| Adults (including the elderly) | 7–8 hours a day |
If you find your kid isn’t getting enough shut-eye, here are some suggestions from NIH.
- Make sure your kid goes to bed and wakes up at the same time every day – even on the weekends. If they want to sleep in a little one day, limit the difference to no more than an hour or it can affect their body’s sleep-wake rhythm.
- An hour before bed-time they should avoid watching TV or using electronics. The light may signal the brain it’s time to be awake.
- Limit caffeine to earlier in the day. The effects can last as long as eight hours.
To find more strategies that could help your kid get enough sleep, click here.
