PEMBROKE PARK, Fla. — With the first day of school approaching, students are preparing to go back to class, and there are ways for parents to help them adapt to the new routines.
Dr. Caroline Weingart, a pediatrician with the Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, said that a focus on getting sleep is very important.
“Just as important as exercise and nutrition when it comes to children’s ability to learn,” Weingart said.
The change needs to be gradual, and the effort will pay off.
“Moving the bedtime up 15 minutes every night for one to two weeks,” Weingart said.
To get the brain into good quality sleep mode, Weingart suggests that kids need to be away from phones, tablets, computers, game consoles, and other electronics for at least an hour before bedtime.
Here are more suggestions from experts with the National Sleep Foundation:
- Adopt a nighttime and bedtime routine that includes self-care activities and is short.
- Schedule bedtime so it’s consistent with the child’s recommended hours of sleep for their age.
- Keep the bedroom dark, cool, and quiet
- Avoid reading scary or stimulating bedtime stories
- A stuffed animal or comfort blanket could help with separation anxiety.
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