Educational Insights 10.28.2013

Educational Insights 10.28.2013
Posted on 10/28/2013

          How much sleep does one really need? According to the National Sleep Foundation, the following recommendations are made:

          Age                                                            Daily Sleep Needs

          Newborns (0-2 months)                           12-18   hours

          Infants (3-11 months)                              14-15   hours

          Toddlers (1-3 years)                                12-14   hours

          Preschoolers (3-5 years)                         11-13   hours

          School-age children (5-10 years)           10-11 hours

          Teens (10-17)                                           8.5-9.25 hours

          Adults                                                        7-9 hours

          Charles Czeisler (Nature, 5/23/13) emphasizes that “sleep is essential to our physical and mental wellbeing” and the negative impact of light consumption and other forms of technology disrupt our “circadian rhythms and health”. Artificial light prevents sleep-promoting neurons in the brain as well as the nightly release of melatonin-a sleep encouraging hormone. Light activates neurons that make us more alert. Some experts recommend an ‘electronic curfew’ an hour before bedtime, when people should dim lights and avoid the light from electronic devices. POWER DOWN at least one hour before going to bed.

          Skipping sleep can be harmful, even deadly, if one is behind the wheel. Additionally, the lack of sleep can make us look bad, feel moody, and often perform poorly. When one does not get enough sleep, it is more likely to have an accident, injury, and/or illness.

          As responsible adults, we need to remind ourselves to get adequate sleep and insure our children get the sleep they need to be and do their best! Thank you to the ESU 13 SOAR department for sharing this invaluable information and reminding us that sleep is food for our brains and necessary for proper growth and development!

-Dr. Paula Sissel

Superintendent/Elementary Principal