As parents we are concerned about every aspect of parenting our children. We worry about the amount of nutrients they consume daily, that they receive adequate amounts of exercise and that we're raising healthy, happy kids. One area that is often overlooked or under-looked as the case may be, is the amount of sleep our children are getting each day. How much sleep do kids need anyway?



According to a National Sleep Foundation report, one-third of children under the age of five and one out of four school aged children do not receive adequate hours of sleep.

We all know what it feels like to have sleepless nights. The following day is a drudge and we just plod through it feeling very much like lying down and taking a nap. All parents have experienced the chaos that comes with an over wrought child who simply can't take another minute of the day. Other than feeling especially worn out, what may be some of the downfalls of sleep deprived children?

1. Lack of sleep causes memory trouble. Simply put, when a child is sleepy throughout the day his attention will be shortened and this manifests itself in poor school and developmental performance.

2. Lack of sleep causes behavioral issues. Developmental psychologists have found that there is a connection between inadequate sleep and behavior trouble with children. They aren't yet certain if it is the lack of sleep that causes the behavioral issues or the behavior itself that prevents kids from being able to calm themselves at rest time. Regardless, they have concluded that with some children simply getting more sleep creates better behavior. Most parents would concur that when a young child is acting out after a busy day the best medicine is sleep and perhaps having the child go to bed earlier at night could be the answer.

How Much is Enough? Parents who are concerned that their child isn't receiving enough rest throughout the day may wonder: ?Exactly how much sleep does a child need anyway?? The answer to that question lies with each individual child, but recommended amounts are: preschool age children/11-13 hours daily, ages five to twelve years/10-11 hours, and teenagers/9-10 hours at bedtime.

Teenagers especially seem to fall short in the nightly sleep department. They are often over taxed with school work, part-time jobs, extra-curricular activities and social lives, not to mention that teens think they're immune to what ails the rest of the world, so they tend to stay up too late and then very often have trouble rising in the morning and staying awake during the day. Just an hour more of sleep may greatly increase their ability to concentrate and achieve academically.

Everyone needs adequate amounts of rest throughout a twenty-four hour period. Children especially need enough sleep so that they may grow and develop both physically and emotionally. If adding an extra hour of sleep doesn't seem to help your child's behavior or concentration then you may consider consulting your pediatrician for advice.