A new study in the November issue of Pediatrics finds that a even a short amount of extra sleep each night helps children’s behavior and alertness in school. While this study was fairly small, it does show that making little changes to improve your child’s sleep can have a big impact. As a former teacher, it was always fairly easy to tell which students were well-rested and which students could have benefited from some extra shut-eye at night. Tired children had a harder time paying attention. Children are involved in many after school activities, so bedtimes often have a habit of sliding a half hour or more. Talk with your child’s teacher. If your child is tired during the day, making bedtime earlier by a half hour (on a permanent basis) can really help to improve things. Most importantly, be consistent! Changes will not occur overnight, but over time, they will pay off. In general, a well-rested child is a happier child, no matter the age.
A Little Extra Sleep Makes a Difference
