Sleep matters

  How many hours sleep should your child be getting and why is it so important?

Why does sleep matter?

  Experts acknowledge that sleep plays a significant role in brain development, and it is important for children to get enough sleep as their bodies grow and mature. Sleep is crucial for teenagers - it is while they are snoozing at night that they release a hormone that is essential for the growth spurt during puberty. It plays in brain development, and sleep also plays an important role in our brain’s day-to-day ability to function. Lack of sleep makes it much harder for us to concentrate, and we become forgetful, irritable and prone to being clumsy and making mistakes. Furthermore, scientific evidence shows that the right amount of night-time sleep is just as important for children’s development as healthy eating and regular exercise.

How much sleep does my primary school child need?

   Sleep requirements differ from individual to individual, but in general a younger child needs more sleep than an older one. Between the ages of five and 11, your child will need 10-12 hours of sleep a night.

Bedtime is a chance to spend some quality time together, and if it’s a time both you and your child enjoy, your son or daughter will settle down in bed and drop off to sleep more easily.

   At stressful times, such as when your child starts in Reception, and at the start of each new school year, your child will probably get more tired than usual and will need more sleep. Limit your child’s use of the internet, games consoles and TV in the hour before they go to bed – and ideally don’t allow your son or daughter to have a computer, console or a TV set in their bedroom.

How much sleep does my secondary school child need?

   Between the ages of 11 and 18, your child will need 8.5-10 hours of sleep a night. It can be difficult to encourage older children to keep to a regular bedtime, but it’s important to try. Experts have linked a lack of sleep to problems with behavior, concentration and achievement at school. A lack of sleep can contribute to weight gain too, because it inhibits the production of appetite-controlling hormones. Older children often don't realize they're cutting back on their sleep.

 In conclusion, get enough sleep for children bodies grow and mature are very important. Sleep is crucial for teenagers--lake of sleep will lead to children much harder to concentrate. They will be become forgetful, annoyed and prostrate to being unwieldy and making mistakes. Between the ages of five and 11 children will need 10-12 hours of sleep a night. Between the ages of 11 and 18, children will need 8.5-10 hours of sleep a night. At stressful times, children will probably get more tired than usual and will need more sleep. A lack of sleep can contribute to weight gain too, older children they are cutting back on their sleep. By the way, lake of sleep can lead to children poor academic performance, concentration decreases, and the impact of a variety of negative emotions. So children get enough sleep is very important for them.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/parents/sleep_matters/