The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) just released recommendations for the number of hours a night that kids and teens need to sleep, to function at their best.
“Sleep is essential for a healthy life, and it is important to promote healthy sleep habits in early childhood,” said Dr. Shalini Paruthi, Pediatric Consensus Panel moderator, and fellow of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. “It is especially important as children reach adolescence to continue to ensure that teens are able to get sufficient sleep.”
Several studies show that small screens in the bedroom can disrupt sleep. In February 2015, the journal Pediatrics published a study of 2048 4th- and 7th-graders which found that sleeping with a small screen decreased sleep time by 20 minutes, usually because of delayed bedtimes.
In SCREENAGERS Dr. Leslie Walker MD says:
"One of the most common reasons kids come to the pediatrician , and teenagers in particular, is because they are having trouble with sleep. Having so many kinds of technology in the room really stops some kids from being able to sleep."
The new sleep recommendations come from a project conducted by 13 of the foremost sleep experts:
"The Pediatric Consensus Panel found that sleeping the number of recommended hours on a regular basis is associated with overall better health outcomes including: improved attention, behavior, learning, memory, emotional regulation, quality of life, and mental and physical health."
The Panel also found a link between sleeping fewer than recommended and physical disorders like hypertension, obesity, and diabetes as well as increased psychological problems like depression and suicidal thoughts.
For Tech Talk Tuesday (TTT) this week, here are a few questions to help you start a conversation with your family around sleep and screens.
As well as our weekly blog, we publish videos like this one every week on the Screenagers YouTube channel
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) just released recommendations for the number of hours a night that kids and teens need to sleep, to function at their best.
“Sleep is essential for a healthy life, and it is important to promote healthy sleep habits in early childhood,” said Dr. Shalini Paruthi, Pediatric Consensus Panel moderator, and fellow of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. “It is especially important as children reach adolescence to continue to ensure that teens are able to get sufficient sleep.”
Several studies show that small screens in the bedroom can disrupt sleep. In February 2015, the journal Pediatrics published a study of 2048 4th- and 7th-graders which found that sleeping with a small screen decreased sleep time by 20 minutes, usually because of delayed bedtimes.
In SCREENAGERS Dr. Leslie Walker MD says:
"One of the most common reasons kids come to the pediatrician , and teenagers in particular, is because they are having trouble with sleep. Having so many kinds of technology in the room really stops some kids from being able to sleep."
The new sleep recommendations come from a project conducted by 13 of the foremost sleep experts:
"The Pediatric Consensus Panel found that sleeping the number of recommended hours on a regular basis is associated with overall better health outcomes including: improved attention, behavior, learning, memory, emotional regulation, quality of life, and mental and physical health."
The Panel also found a link between sleeping fewer than recommended and physical disorders like hypertension, obesity, and diabetes as well as increased psychological problems like depression and suicidal thoughts.
For Tech Talk Tuesday (TTT) this week, here are a few questions to help you start a conversation with your family around sleep and screens.
As well as our weekly blog, we publish videos like this one every week on the Screenagers YouTube channel
Today I discuss powerful research regarding how sleep deficiency can impact brain development. Having a calm conversation about the latest science of sleep and brain development before even broaching the ideas of new sleep rules can be effective.
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Before I put on my clinical hat and tell you lots of things I have found interesting about sleep research these days, I want to mention what some parents I have spoken with have told me. They tell me that their kids have devices in their bedrooms and their children are getting good about not using them by a certain hour. And my response is YES! AND … although this is probably true, once they hit the preteen and teen years and perhaps a boyfriend or girlfriend comes into the picture, or say another drama has really hit the road, or… – resisting devices can become impossible. (Not to mention they are tired so executive function, i.e. willpower and self-control goes down exponentially).
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The struggles around sleep and youth are what I call “Bedtime Madness.” At night, parents are tired and kids are wired. Getting kids and teens to bed is often a hard job, especially when you are trying to get them to turn off the screens. Today I give you tips and strategies to try to put an end to bedtime madness.
READ MORE >for more like this, DR. DELANEY RUSTON'S NEW BOOK, PARENTING IN THE SCREEN AGE, IS THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE FOR TODAY’S PARENTS. WITH INSIGHTS ON SCREEN TIME FROM RESEARCHERS, INPUT FROM KIDS & TEENS, THIS BOOK IS PACKED WITH SOLUTIONS FOR HOW TO START AND SUSTAIN PRODUCTIVE FAMILY TALKS ABOUT TECHNOLOGY AND IT’S IMPACT ON OUR MENTAL WELLBEING.
