Researchers at Tel Aviv University (Israel) advise parents not to frequently approve their children’s requests to stay up late. Even a reduction of just one hour of sleep can significantly diminish children’s cognitive abilities.
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| Children who sleep one hour less often feel fatigued in the evenings (Photo: dreamstime) |
The research team studied the sleeping habits of 77 students aged 10-11. The children were monitored for both their bedtime and the number of times they woke up during the night. They were also asked to either sleep an extra hour or reduce their sleep by one hour over several nights. The results showed that those who slept one hour less often felt fatigued in the evenings and performed significantly worse on cognitive sharpness tests (assessing quick reaction and memory).
Dr. Avi Sadeh, the lead researcher, commented: “Previous studies have shown that children are sleeping less and less. Parents or caregivers can detect the appropriate sleep needs of each child by extending or shortening their sleep duration and monitoring the changes in their behavior and comfort levels. This way, we can find the optimal sleep requirements for children.”
Another independent study also found a correlation between sleep disorders and hyperactivity and attention deficit disorder (ADHD) in children.
