Get Some Sleep!
By Vickie An
Are you tired during the day? Do you have trouble focusing in class? Do you feel like a grouch? If so, you might not be getting enough sleep.
On weekday mornings, Vanessa Louie, 10, does what most kids her age do. She rolls out of bed at 7:00 a.m., brushes her teeth and gets dressed. Some days, she watches a little bit of TV. Then she hops on the bus to P.S. 124 Yung Wing School, in New York City.
Vanessa gets about eight hours of sleep each night. Waking up in the morning isn't always easy for the fifth grader, though. "My mom has to pull me out of bed almost every day," Vanessa told TFK. "I get really tired. Sometimes, I almost fall asleep in class."
Vanessa's not alone. Studies show that kids across the nation aren't catching enough z's. Experts say children ages 5 to 12 should get 10 to 11 hours of sleep each night. But according to a poll by the National Sleep Foundation, kids are only snoozing an average of nine and a half hours a night. An extra 30 minutes of slumber may not seem like a lot, but it can make a huge difference for kids.
Sleep Well, Do Well
Research shows that the amount of sleep you get can affect how well you learn. Students who are well rested tend to score higher on math and writing tests. Meanwhile, kids who get less sleep have a harder time paying attention in class, which can affect future test performance.
Lack of sleep can also affect your coordination, behavior and mood. "You're more likely to be cranky if you don't get a good night's rest," says Jodi Mindell, a sleep expert. "Sleep affects everything."
Autumn Atencio, 10, is a fifth grader at Marshall Elementary Magnet School, in Flagstaff, Arizona. Autumn and some of her classmates kept a sleep journal for a week. On the days she slept fewer hours, "I wasn't completely happy," she admits.
Autumn's teacher John Coe says he can tell when his students aren't sleeping well. "It hasn't happened this year, but there have been kids in the past who have fallen asleep in class," he told TFK.
Wired Awake
What's keeping kids up at night? One big sleep stealer is the use of electronics, says Mindell. More kids are online, playing video games, texting friends and watching TV before bed. A survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation found that 71% of kids ages 8 to 18 have a TV in their room. About 36% of kids have a computer in their room.
"Using electronics keeps your brain stimulated," Mindell explains. "It's a lot of bright light to your eyes at a time when your body needs dim light to help you feel sleepy." Drinking caffeine and doing too many after-school activities can also affect how much sleep kids get.
It's never too late to change your sleep habits, Mindell says. Make sleep a priority. Keep the same sleep schedule every day. Pull the plug on electronics in the bedroom. Turn off the lights, and go to sleep early for a week. "Then see how you feel," Mindell says. "You will be stunned at the difference."
1. Show evidence of a close reading on the page.
2. Write a ½ page reflection in your journal.
Possible journal topics:
Is the amount of sleep you getting affecting you at school? Why? Why not?
Is the amount of sleep you getting affecting your mood? Why? Why not?