Kids Need Sleep

Sleep is one of the most critical aspects of our health, and we spend approximately one-third of our lives doing it. This is a time where our bodies heal, and our brain reserves are restored. Sleep is especially important for children and teens, where sleep impacts development, academic functioning, and mental and physical health. Sleep difficulties are not uncommon for young people and should be addressed with their pediatricians.

The American Academy of Pediatrics has put forth recommended sleeping guidelines. Newborns through 12 months should get 12-16 hours of sleep daily, with 11-14 hours recommended for those aged 1 to 2 years old. By age 3, children should sleep about 10-13 hours, which is recommended through age 6. Children in the 6 to 12 age range should sleep approximately 9-12 hours per day. Teens aged 13-18 are recommended to get 8-10 hours per night.

Without sufficient sleep, children and teens are at risk of negative health outcomes, including obesity, diabetes, fatigue, and a depleted immune system. Growth and cardiovascular functioning are also tied to sleep. School problems can also occur, as insufficient sleep impacts attention, concentration, learning, and memory. Irritability, mood swings, and behavioral issues can also result from poor sleep, which can also impact a child’s success in school. These issues can occur after just four nights of reduced sleep, emphasizing the importance of getting quality sleep every night. Sleep is so vital that even an extra half-hour of sleep per night can improve children’s attention and behavior.

Sleep habits change as children grow into adolescence. In particular, sleep cycles shift toward later wake and sleep times, which is why many teenagers prefer to stay up late and sleep in. Teens are also more likely to have irregular sleep patterns, particularly with even later sleep and wake times on the weekend. Having an inconsistent sleep schedule can make it much more difficult to function, with problems in concentration, moodiness, and alertness.

Many have argued that early school start times can interfere with natural sleep cycles and impair students’ learning. In fact, some school districts have had positive outcomes from delaying their start times by an hour or so.

By Dr. Stephanie M. Fox|2020-02-20T14:29:32+00:00February 20th, 2020|

About the Author: Dr. Stephanie M. Fox

Dr. Fox’s professional training took her throughout the Four Corners area, which inspired her practice name. In 2009, she earned a B.A. in Psychology from the University of New Mexico, graduating summa cum laude. She earned her M.A. in Clinical Psychology from Argosy University, Denver in 2012, and her Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology from the Arizona School of Professional Psychology in 2016. Throughout her training, Dr. Fox has had an extensive assessment background, including conducting diagnostic, forensic, and educational/achievement evaluations with adolescents and adults. She completed a predoctoral internship at the Colorado Mental Health Institute at Fort Logan, and completed her postdoctoral work in private practice in personality and psychoeducational evaluations. Collectively, Dr. Fox has completed hundreds of evaluations covering a diverse range of issues. Dr. Fox is licensed as a Psychologist in the state of Colorado (#4709), and is also nationally certified as a Health Service Psychologist by the National Register (#55849). She is a member of the American Psychological Association, Colorado Psychological Association, and Colorado Assessment Society.