Back to School
Let’s talk about sleep . . . Why getting good sleep matters in school.
I recently read an article titled The Role of Sleep and Impact on Brain and Learning that was very interesting. We all know that sleep allows us to function at a basic level. Sleep heavily contributes to basic physiological functions in our body that help to regulate body temperatures, our immune systems, and our ability to regain health when sick. However, did you know that getting a healthy amount of sleep also improves cognitive tasks and memory?
This article examined several studies that concluded that sleep deprivation severely impacts learning, memory tasks, and executive function tasks. Overall, getting a good night’s both before and after learning can greatly improve learning outcomes. Although the concept of good sleep hygiene varies among ages, the article did emphasize that children are positively affected by getting plenty of sleep every night. What does that mean for elementary school children? According to The American Academy of Pediatrics, children 6 - 12 years of age should get 9 - 12 hours of sleep per night. If your child does fall asleep during the day, only allow him or her to sleep for a short time (about 15 minutes), and avoid overuse of screens.
Overall, it is important that elementary school children go to bed at the same time every night. Create a routine that is the same every night . . . bath time, brush teeth, read a book, sing a song, play quiet music, and snuggle up with a favorite stuffy.
Wishing sweet dreams for all!
Holly Maher, RN
hmaher@sau88.net / 603-448-0618
