In the News - August 2009
Back to School: Is lack of sleep causing classroom problems?
LITTLE ROCK - Constant colds, low energy, irritability - it's possible these
are symptoms your school-age child isn't getting enough sleep, according to Dr.
Margaret Harris, extension health specialist with the University of Arkansas
Division of Agriculture.
Sleeplessness isn't an uncommon problem among children, though the causes
vary.
According to the 2004 Sleep in America Poll, which examined the sleep habits
of children, 69 percent of children experience one or more sleep problems
several times a week.
"Children between the ages of 6-9 need about 10 hours of sleep a night,"
Harris said. "Preteens need more than nine hours a night."
The symptoms of sleeplessness in children are much the same as those
experienced by adults, including an inability to stay focused, lacking energy,
having less ability to fight disease and just plain feeling grouchy, anxious or
combative.
Harris offered some tips for helping children sleep through the night, or get
a sufficient number of hours of sleep each night:
- Keep a regular bedtime. Constant changes will reset a
child's body clock.
- Don't feed big meals at bedtime.
- Be sure any after-dinner and after-homework playtime is
relaxing, not hyperactive.
- Don't serve caffeinated beverages, including iced tea, hot
cocoa and soft drinks, within six hours of bedtime.
Another important task is to ensure there are no distractions in the bedroom
after "lights out."
"Televisions, computer games, even reading can conspire to keep a child awake
long past the time he or she needs to be asleep," Harris said. "Confine the
distractions to pre-bedtime hours."
Strategies for ensuring sleep are not one size fits all. Each child will have
an individual routine at bedtime.
"Also keep in mind that each child has his or her own routine for falling
asleep," Harris said. "Some are ‘out' as soon as the head hits the pillow.
Others need a little downtime to ease into sleep."
For more information about keeping children healthy, visit
www.uaex.edu.
The Cooperative Extension Service is part of the University of Arkansas
Division of Agriculture and offers its programs to all eligible persons
regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age, disability,
marital or veteran status, or any other legally protected status, and is an
Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.
August 7, 2009
Media Contact: Elizabeth Fortune
Extension Communications Specialist
U of A Division of Agriculture
Cooperative Extension Service
(501) 671-2120
efortune@uaex.edu
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