Getting Some "Shut Eye"

Anyone who knows me knows I am usually a stickler when it comes to bedtime. Most nights, my children are tucked into bed before 9 p.m. and it is rare that I budge from their bedtime. However, with summer rolling in (and lightning bugs begging to be caught), I find it harder and harder to make the bedtime stick. In fact, I have to confess that bedtime has been happening later and later in the days since school has been out.

But, that is all about to change. Tonight, I read a study that was shared at the SLEEP 2010 Conference in San Antonio. The study found that children who have bedtime rules and get plenty of “shut eye” score higher on a wide range of developmental assessments. They also have higher academic scores in language, literacy and math abilities!

Meanwhile, kids 5 to 12 years old getting less than the recommended 10 to 12 hours of sleep had lower scores and experienced negative consequences for their development and school achievement. Want to improve your child’s school performance? It may be as simple as starting with their sleep habits!

In fact, one of the study’s authors says that “getting parents to set bedtime routines can be an important way to make a significant impact on children's literacy and language skills.” The author also recommends that parents help their kids get sufficient sleep. She suggests setting an appropriate bedtime and interacting with your child before bed by reading books or telling stories.

So what time is a good time for a little shut eye? A study in the August 2009 issue of Sleep Medicine emphasized the importance of an early bedtime. In fact, children with a bedtime after 9 p.m. took longer to fall asleep and had a shorter total sleep time. And children without a consistent bedtime routine get less sleep overall than those with routines.

So as we head into summer vacation, it might be a good idea to stick with your regular sleep schedule (and leave the lightning bugs alone). The consistency, combined with plenty of summer learning opportunities, will not only make “back-to-school” in the fall easier, but also could give your kids an advantage.