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