Let’s take a moment to discuss the nightly struggle of getting kids to bed, no matter their age. It’s a common battle that many parents face. The other evening, I found myself shouting upstairs, “YOU’VE HAD ENOUGH HUGS!” directed at my youngest, who is just four.
However, the real challenge lies with my two older kids. Emma, who is nine, and Ryan, who is twelve, require more than just a bath and a bedtime story to settle down. They both have homework to tackle, and Ryan has soccer practice twice weekly, while Emma attends gymnastics once a week. By the time they get home around 3:30 PM, the hours until bedtime at 8 PM become a frantic race to finish all their responsibilities, amidst their endless requests for screen time. It’s common for our family to be gathered around the dinner table, with my spouse assisting Ryan with math while I help Emma with her writing, all while our four-year-old is distracted by a tablet.
Honestly, this chaotic scene isn’t what I envisioned when I embarked on this parenting journey. But if we don’t cram everything in, getting them to bed by 8 PM seems impossible.
I’ve noticed that when my kids don’t get enough sleep, they struggle in the morning. The repercussions of not winding down at night are more significant than I initially thought. The CDC’s National Youth Risk Behavior Survey reveals that “A” students average 30 more minutes of sleep per night (6.71 hours) compared to those receiving “D” and “F” grades (6.16 hours). That half an hour might seem insignificant, but it can have a substantial impact.
Now, this doesn’t guarantee that a timely bedtime will transform them into straight-A students, but it does indicate that adequate sleep can enhance their academic performance. I was surprised to discover that just 30 minutes could make such a difference.
For instance, last night, Ryan completed his homework right after school, had an early dinner, and then headed off to soccer practice. He returned, showered, and before I knew it, it was already 8 PM. He had accomplished everything expected of him, and I felt proud, so I allowed him an extra hour to indulge in video games as a reward. In hindsight, that might not have been the best approach.
If your family is anything like ours, you probably keep a close eye on screen time. Without regulation, my kids would be glued to their devices, neglecting responsibilities and becoming hermits. Yet, we use screen time as a reward, which puts me in a tricky position. I want to acknowledge Ryan’s hard work, but I also don’t want him to be dozing off in class because he stayed up late gaming, which has happened before.
Such is the reality of parenting today: a constant balancing act of managing screen time while instilling a sense of responsibility in our children.
I began to wonder, how much sleep do my kids really need? The experts at Savvysleeper analyzed the CDC’s data on sleep habits among high schoolers and determined that teens aged 13 to 18 should aim for 8 to 10 hours of sleep per night. Alarmingly, 71% of teens fail to meet this guideline. As I noted earlier, excessive screen time is a major culprit.
Among high school students, about one in three reported watching between two to three hours of TV on school nights. Meanwhile, 19% claimed they didn’t watch any TV during the week, while a staggering 14% juggled homework, extracurricular activities, and four or more hours of TV each night before finally heading to bed. Additionally, 28% of students who are sleep-deprived admitted to playing video games for over four hours on school nights.
Ultimately, this all underscores the crucial role sleep plays in our children’s lives, and it’s essential we help them recognize its importance as well. I understand that whenever I insist they turn everything off and go to bed, they react dramatically, as though I’ve committed some grave injustice. With my twelve-year-old, even a simple “good morning” can elicit a glare, so this is par for the course. Nevertheless, we should be motivated to prioritize early bedtimes because that extra 30 minutes can create a lasting difference.
For further insights on how sleep impacts health and well-being, check out excellent resources from the CDC here. If you’re interested in more parenting guidance, feel free to visit our other blog posts, such as this one, which discusses various parenting challenges. For those exploring family planning, this site offers valuable information about at-home insemination kits.
Summary
In conclusion, an additional 30 minutes of sleep can significantly enhance a high school student’s academic performance. With many teens struggling to meet sleep recommendations, it’s crucial for parents to prioritize bedtime routines. Balancing obligations, screen time, and sufficient rest remains a challenge, but understanding the importance of sleep can lead to better outcomes for our children.