Is Your Child Getting Enough Sleep?

Yesterday, my son told me that one of his classmates fell asleep during a test. His teacher and several classmates had to wake him up.

Of course the children found it very amusing but it really isn't a laughing matter. The question that begs to be asked is... "Is Your Child Getting Enough Sleep?"

Many of the kids in school today have a long day. Those in the morning session start school at 7.45am. at least an hour before the adults start work. Some of them stay back in school for activities till 3 or 4 pm. Then they are driven to a child care centre till mum or dad comes to pick them up at 6 or 7 pm.

Some of them are sent to tuition centres AFTER dinner. These tuition centres operate till as late as 10pm or maybe even later with classes for children as young as 7 for those hours. Some tuition centres offer classes for Std 1 kids from 8.30 to 9.45 pm. How can these kids have time to unwind before going to bed? What time will they eventually fall asleep?

According to my children, most of their classmates go to bed at 10 or 11 pm. It is no wonder that they have trouble getting up in the morning. Some of them continue their sleep in the car or busses on the way to school and sleep at their desks while waiting for class to start and sometimes during lessons and in this case during a test. School going children aged 5-12 still need around 10-11 hours of sleep.  Are our children getting enough sleep?