Back to School Sleep Schedule

Summer is almost over and the kids are probably only a week or two away from starting back to school.

Now is the time to start getting back to a normal sleep routine. Between sleepovers, camp, and other summer activities, your kids might not have a sleep routine. Having a good sleep routine is important for kids and teens in school to not only keep them healthy and re-energize them, but to help them pay attention in class (1).

Check out the tips below to help get your child’s sleep cycle ready for school!

  • Turn off the TV. According to the Sleep Foundation, television and computer use before bedtime can hinder quality sleep (2).
  • Set a bedtime. If you child has been staying up too late, set a new bedtime. It may be hard for your body to adjust right away, so start with small changes, such as 15 minutes earlier each day.
  • Stop sleeping in on weekends. For most of us, it’s easy to sleep in on the weekend, but it can throw off your normal sleep schedule.
  • Get the right amount of hours. School-age children between 7-12 years old are recommended to get 10-11 hours of sleep per day. Children and teens 12-18 years old should get between 8-9 hours. Make sure your child is getting enough sleep (3).
  • Be a good role model. Set an example of good sleep habits for your child. If they see that good sleep habits are important to you, it might be easier to get them into a good sleep schedule!
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 1. http://kidshealth.org/PageManager.jsp?dn=KidsHealth&lic=1&ps=207&article_set=20280 
 
2. http://sleepfoundation.org/sleep-news/lights-out-good-nights-sleep
3. http://www.webmd.com/parenting/guide/sleep-children?page=2

 

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