America's Youngsters Falling Asleep—Everywhere!
Getting kids to go to bed at night can be quite a chore. But according to today's article in Claims Guides, a leading insurance publication, our kids are not only getting insufficient sleep...they're falling asleep everywhere—in school, at their home computers and even behind the wheel.
Although research shows that school-age children and teenagers need at least nine hours of sleep per day, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) say they're getting on average much less: from 6.9 hours for high school seniors to 8.4 hours for sixth-graders.
No wonder their eyelids are drooping!
Without enough sleep, kids have trouble focusing and responding quickly, according to the NIH. There is even growing evidence that a chronic lack of sleep puts them at increased risk for obesity, heart disease, diabetes and infection.
And that's to say nothing about what happens when youngsters and their friends begin driving while sleep-impaired. Put a sleepy teenager behind the wheel with a car full of friends, and they're a disaster waiting to happen!
What can parents do to ensure their kids get a good night's sleep?
Well, there are always mama's old-fashioned remedies, like warm milk, a hot bath and a good book. But beyond those, here's a novel idea: reduce the number of electronic devices in their rooms. Yes, that means take out the television, phone, computer and CD players (unless, of course, music helps lull them to sleep). The more relaxing and soothing their surroundings (and the less tempting to jump out of bed to answer an instant message), the more likely they are to get to sleep sooner.
Want to see something other than the tops of your kids' heads at the breakfast or dinner table? Make sure they get to bed early and get a good night's sleep. They'll stay healthier and have better success in life—and your house might just get a little bit quieter. :)
