Is Your Child Getting Enough Sleep?

How much sleep do our kids need? The question is commonly debated by researchers and parents alike. The more, the better I usually say, up to a logical point of course. National guidelines under the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend 8.5 hours of sleep for tweens and teens, and at least 10 hours for children ages 5-10.

According to a recent study though:
• Most 16-year-olds scored highest on a standardized test when they had only 7 hours of sleep.
• For 12-year-olds in this study, the optimal number was slightly over 8 hours of sleep.
• For 10-year-olds, it was 9 hours.

Check out an interesting article in Time.com detailing the study. It also discusses “10 risky behaviors more common in sleepy teens” which made me go back to my original the more, the better sleep theory.

 


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Getting Your Kids on a Sleep Schedule

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Author: Karen Latimer

Dr. Latimer is a Family Physician and Wellness & Parenting Coach. She works with parents who want to feel more confident when helping their children and coaches young adults to help them better navigate college life and transitions. Contact her at drkarenlatimer@gmail.com to learn more. She is the author of two Audible Originals, Take Back the House -- Raising Happy Parents and Worry Less, Parent Better. She is also the co-founder of the app that makes your life easier and puts social in a healthier place -- List'm.