September ''too late'' to rectify school sleep schedules
16/08/2011
Parents should not delay in addressing their children's sleep schedules, as leaving the task until September will not give them sufficient time to adjust to their children's beds.
Health Net recommends starting the back to school sleep agenda around two weeks before going into the classroom, as this will allow gradual changes to be made.
"Getting adequate sleep helps to contribute significantly to overall well-being, particularly for youngsters whose minds and bodies are still developing," commented Jonathan Scheff, chief medical officer for Health Net.
Referring to guidance from the National Sleep Foundation, the group said that children between three and five years of age should get around 11 to 13 hours sleep.
For youngsters aged over 18 years, this can be reduced to between seven and nine hours.
Establishing a routine is one of the best ways to achieve this, which may involve having a bath and reading a story before getting into bed.
Posted by Elizabeth Mewes
