Summary: A survey from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) reveals that inadequate sleep negatively impacts students’ mood, behavior, energy, and academic performance, according to parents. The findings coincide with the fifth annual Student Sleep Health Week (Sept 16-20), during which the AASM promotes sleep health through education and advocacy. Parents are encouraged to establish regular bedtime routines for children and teens, as distractions like social media, homework, and extracurricular activities interfere with sleep schedules. AASM experts emphasize the importance of sleep for both physical and mental well-being, offering tips to improve sleep habits and tools like the bedtime calculator to ensure students get the recommended hours of rest for their age.
Key Takeaways:
- Negative Impacts of Sleep Deprivation: Parents report that lack of sleep significantly affects their children’s mood (58%), behavior (49%), and academic performance (30%), highlighting the consequences of insufficient rest.
- Distractions Affecting Sleep: Social media, homework, extracurricular activities, and afterschool jobs are major factors disrupting students’ sleep schedules, according to the AASM survey.
- Importance of Consistent Sleep Routines: The AASM stresses the value of consistent sleep schedules, with 80% of parents reporting regular bedtimes for their children, and offers practical tips to help ensure students meet the recommended sleep duration for their age.
For students at every grade level, prioritizing sleep is essential to succeed physically, emotionally, athletically, and academically, according to a new survey from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM).
Parents say that when their children don’t get enough sleep, they are negatively impacted in mood (58%), attitude (49%), behavior (49%), physical energy, (44%), and academic performance (30%).
To elevate conversations about students’ sleep health, the AASM is holding the fifth annual Student Sleep Health Week, Sept 16-20. Through education, stakeholder collaboration, and advocacy, the AASM will engage students, parents, teachers, nurses, counselors, coaches, and other community members to promote this year’s theme: “Sleep Well to Excel.”
Establishing a Healthy Relationship With Sleep
As with any healthy habit, consistency is key. According to the survey, most parents (80%) said their school-aged children and teens have a regular bedtime. According to a release from the AASM, “back-to-school season is the perfect time to reset and ensure that the students in your life are ‘on track’ and settled into their new routine.”
“Helping your child or teen establish a healthy relationship with sleep is essential for their success in and out of the classroom,” says Rakesh Bhattacharjee, MD, pediatric sleep medicine physician and spokesperson for the AASM, in a release. “What we may not realize is that kids do a lot of growing and developing while they’re asleep, so consistent and sufficient rest is key to their overall well-being.”
With dozens of distractions and responsibilities to manage, kids are under the weight of increasing demands for their time. The AASM survey reports that parents said social media (40%), homework (33%), clubs, sports and other activities (22%), and afterschool jobs (13%) negatively affect the sleep schedules of their students.
“Healthy sleep is necessary for kids to regulate their mood and mental health. If your child is struggling, consider addressing sleep as a first line of defense, in addition to speaking with your child’s health care professional,” Bhattacharjee says in a release.
Tips and Guidance for Healthy Sleep
Finally, the AASM notes that it’s also important to make sure students get the recommended amount of sleep for their age. For example, kids between 6 and 12 years need nine to 12 hours of sleep overnight, and teenagers between 13 and 18 years need eight to 10 hours of sleep each night. Online tools, like the AASM bedtime calculator, can help parents regulate their children’s overall sleep routines based on their specific needs.
Here are a few tips from the AASM to make the transition to the new school year a smooth one:
- Restrict screen time before bed; turn off electronics at least 30 to 60 minutes before bedtime.
- Develop a relaxing nightly routine, which may include reading, journaling, or taking a warm bath or shower.
- Create a quiet, cool, and calm sleep environment.
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