The Primary Adversary of Quality Sleep in School-Age Children: Electronic Screens

According to a recent survey conducted by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM), video games and social media are causing school children to stay awake at night.

However, there are also more constructive activities, such as homework and extracurricular commitments, that can pose challenges when trying to establish a healthy sleep routine early in the school year.

The Importance of Healthy Sleep for Children

Dr. Anne Marie Morse, a pediatric sleep physician and spokesperson for the AASM, emphasized the significance of adequate sleep in a child’s overall health and well-being. She pointed out that healthy sleep leads to improved appearance, mood, and behavior, enabling children to stay focused and alert in both the classroom and extracurricular activities.

According to a survey conducted by the AASM, half of parents attributed disrupted sleep in their children to video games, while 44% blamed social media, 34% pointed to homework, and 28% mentioned extracurricular commitments.

The AASM provided some recommendations to mitigate these disruptions:

• Avoid consuming caffeine in the form of sodas, coffee, or energy drinks after school, as it can interfere with falling asleep at night.
• Limit screen time before bedtime; encourage your child to disconnect from electronic devices 30 to 60 minutes before sleep to promote relaxation.
• Store electronic devices in a different room, not the bedroom, to reduce temptation. Consider using an alarm clock instead of a phone to wake up.
• Establish and follow a calming nighttime routine, which could involve activities like journaling, reading, or taking a warm bath or shower.
• Maintain a quiet and cool bedroom environment.
• Ensure that children aged 6 to 12 years receive nine to 12 hours of sleep each night, while teenagers should aim for eight to 10 hours of rest.
• Utilize the AASM’s Online Bedtime Calculator to help determine an appropriate bedtime for your child or teenager.

Read the original article on Medical Xpress.

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