Sleep is very important for all students. With video games television, it is hard to make a child of any age go to bed on time with many distractions at hand. Needless to say, sleep is imperative for children because it is an essential part of mental and physical development. Children of ages between ages six and twelve need nine to twelve hours of sleep each night. Teens, ages 13-18, need to sleep anywhere within eight and ten hours of sleep each night. A good night’s sleep promotes attention, memory, and analytical thinking during the school day. Sleep also helps students with expansive thinking and can spur creativity within children. Children who do not get enough sleep suffer from excessive drowsiness and sleep deprivation. A lack of sleep can also cause moodiness, irritability, and exaggerated emotional reactions. It also helps empower the immune system, helps regulate hormones, and enables muscle and tissue recovery in children. Sleep deprivation is also attributed to affecting the development of the frontal lobe. It is a part of the brain that is critical to control impulsive behavior. Numerous studies have also found that teens who suffer from a lack of sleep are likely to engage in high risk behavior. Teens that suffer of sleep deprivation are more likely to be involved in drunk driving, texting while driving, failing to use their seatbelt, drug and alcohol use, smoking, risky sexual behavior, fighting, and carrying a handgun. In order for students to get enough sleep, it is important for parents to implement good sleep routines. Children like adults, do well with routines. If they are used to going to sleep every night at a consistent time, they are more likely to get better sleep.
