If you have not already done so, please read Blog Posts 1 through 5 that describe how sleep is important and beneficial. I will post specific information for parents and children based on my book, “Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child.” Please do not be put off by my book’s length. This is a reference book. Read only the topic of interest to you.
Here are additional studies from Blog Post 228C of what happens when children get a few minutes more sleep (or an earlier bedtime) or a few minutes less sleep:
Delaying school start times, 15-year-olds slept in later with 4 minutes more sleep and this improved mental health, better prosocial behavior, peer relationships and attention levels after 5 months.
Among preschoolers, 6 minutes more night sleep (plus 6 minutes more day sleep) was associated with more prosocial behavior and more cognitive empathy.
Children at 3.5 years who had 7 minutes less sleep were more likely to develop symptoms of bipolar disorder at 11 years of age.
Delaying school start times allowed 15-year-olds to sleep in, they had improved alertness and well-being and lower levels of sleepiness after 9 months with 10 minutes more sleep.
Parents did not perceive their infants, 1-18 months of age, as having a sleep problem with a 10 minutes earlier bedtime.
Healthier brain-based neural imaging and less externalizing problems occurred 12-year-olds with 11 minutes more sleep.
Experimentally extending sleep in teens reduced insomnia and depressive symptoms with 13 minutes more sleep.
Advancing school start times in 13-year-olds caused more low mood and sleepiness with 15 minutes of less sleep.
Going to bed 23 minutes earlier produced 15 minutes more sleep in adolescents who fell asleep faster, had lower sleeping heart rate, better cognitive development, brain structure, and brain function (Blog Post 228C).
Delaying school start times in 4 studies allowed teens and preteens to sleep in: Less sleepiness, less tardiness, less low mood, and better grades with 17, 29, 30, and 34 minutes of more sleep.
Experimentally extending sleep among 7-11years old caused improved grades for mathematics and language with 18 minutes of more sleep.
Parent-set earlier bedtimes for 14-year-olds caused improved daytime functioning with 19 minutes of more sleep.
Adolescents had less daytime sleepiness and more alertness with 23 minutes more sleep.
Experimentally extending sleep among 7-11years old: Improved emotional lability and restless-impulsive behavior with 27 minutes of more sleep.
Adolescents had fewer depressive symptoms with 29 minutes more sleep.
Children 6- to 8-years-old who had 30 minutes less sleep were likely to develop psychiatric symptoms two years later.
Kindergarten children did better in school (improved socio-emotional competence, learning engagement, academic outcomes and less aggression and ADHD behavior) with a bedtime 20 minutes earlier, they slept in 10 minutes later for 30 minutes more sleep. (Blog Post 160)
Teens with 34 minutes more sleep had less tardiness and better grades.
Experimental sleep extension in 4th and 6th graders had 35 minutes more sleep and improved neurobehavioral function.
Experimental sleep extension and restriction on 10-year-old showed that 39 minutes less sleep caused reduction in overall well-being and ability to cope in a school environment. (Blog Post 229).
A 41 minute earlier bedtime among 8-year-olds produced a lower epigenetic risk for obesity. (Blog Post 234E)
Adolescents with 45 minutes more sleep had improved motivation and less depressive symptoms.
Experimentally allowing 15-17-year-olds, who were good sleepers (more than 8 hours/night) to have a 10 hour sleep opportunity caused increased happiness! (Blog Post 79)
For more information.
The Power of Small Changes: Blog Posts 6:and 137
Earlier Bedtimes: Blog Post 162
