How much sleep does your child need?

As we prepare for the school year to begin, many of our families are working to transition back to daily routines that have been discarded during the summer break.  One of the most difficult, but arguably most important transition for our scholars is making sure they are getting to bed on time in order to get the amount of sleep they require.

Studies show how important sleep is for the human body.  Sleep allows our brains to grow and recover, and our immune system is boosted through proper sleep.  Many of our children have had the luxury over the summer to sleep into the later hours of the morning and thus have been able to go to bed later than usual.  The struggle is real for parents who now must curve that habit in order to get their children up, fully dressed, fed, and out the door in time to be their best selves for the rigorous school day.

This transition can prove to be mentally, emotionally, and physically exhausting.  Ali Dausend, a 2^nd Grade Teacher and Dean of Academics at Archway Glendale explains, “In the younger grades we find a lot of negative behaviors and tantrums are often revolved around being overly tired. Often, students behave great in class, only to come home crumbling into a sobbing mess before dinner is served.”

Mrs. Dausend suggests that if a child is fighting going to bed, it may be too late, and they may be fighting it because they are already over-tired.  She recommends trying 30-60 minutes earlier the next night until you find the right time with least resistance.  As adults, we can recognize when we feel tired, but children don’t always. They often exhibit exhaustion with hyperactivity or volatile emotions.

Bedtime routines that only require minor tweaking for the school year may only require a few days of transition before the first day of school.  However, if your child’s sleep schedule has drastically changed during the summer break, we highly recommend you begin making changes now.  We have supplied a simple sleep chart by age that we hope you will find helpful. Transitioning back to school is exhausting, especially for a child who is excited. Let’s all work together to make sure our scholars are the best versions of themselves every day by getting the rest they need.