Nine hours of sleep is the minimum requirement for primary pupils, reveals study
According to research carried out by the Autonomous University of Barcelona, children who sleep for between nine and eleven hours each night are likely to be better learners than peers who receive less sleep.
The study revealed that children who had less than nine hours sleep stood a higher risk of struggling at school compared to their peers who had received nine hours plus shut eye.
According to the results, less than nine hours sleep and a lack of routine at bedtime were linked to memory, motivation and learning issues. Some individuals also displayed language and writing problems which were believed to have been related to sleep disruptions.
The researchers who conducted the study have suggested that parents should try to be more aware of the significance of making sure their children are getting a good amount of sleep and are in a good bedtime routine.
This is not the only study to reveal links between children’s behaviour and their sleeping patterns, with research from the University of Michigan in the US publishing details only earlier this year stating that a large percentage of children who are ‘bullies’ and ‘aggressive’ at school are far more likely to be children who either have sleep disorders or who do not get what is considered to be a sufficient amount of sleep.
An additional study which was conducted in Finland and involved studying a group of seven and eight year olds, found that the behaviour of children who were deprived of sleep shared many similarities with the behaviour associated with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
If you are concerned that your child may be suffering from a sleep disorder then your first port of call should be your health care provider/GP, who will be able to provide you with the appropriate medical advice. In addition, you may also find that hypnotherapy for sleep disorders could be of benefit if implemented as part of a balanced treatment plan including a good bedtime routine.
View the original BBC News article.