Baringa State Primary School eNewsletter

A message from our Guidance Officer

Did you know that most kids don’t get enough sleep?

Sleep problems are some of the most common issues faced by parents. When kids don’t get enough sleep over a period of time there can be behavioural, cognitive (mental) and emotional symptoms.

What happens when your kids don’t get enough sleep?

The following can be symptoms of poor sleep:

Irritability and grumpiness
Shorter attention span
Lack of concentration and focus
Reduced academic performance
Difficulty learning new information
Difficulty regulating emotions
Reduced immune system
Poorer memory
Increased impulsivity

How much sleep is required?

School age children need around 9 to 11 hours of restful sleep per night.

How to support healthy sleep habits

There are many things you can do to help your kids get good quality sleep as often as possible. Here are a few tips:

Help your child make sleep a priority! Ensure they’re getting enough sleep for their age.
Set up a regular bedtime and waking up time – and help your child stick with it!
Develop a regular bedtime routine
Talk to your child about their sleep to figure out what might be impacting on it
Turn off devices at least 30 minutes before bed