When the alarm clock sounds, does your child wake easily, well rested and ready to start the day?

Many children don't get enough sleep, according to Dr. Kamal Naqvi, a sleep disorders expert and medical director of the Sleep Disorders Center at Children's. Homework, household chores, social activities, medical conditions and over-stimulating sleeping environments (such as bright lights, TVs, radios and computers) are among the reasons children don't get enough sleep.

Approximately 100 years ago children and adults slept one to two hours more than they do currently. With no alarm clocks, children awakened spontaneously or in response to a parent. Parents now expect children to sleep less, Dr. Naqvi says.

"Parents often view getting proper nutrition to be of vital importance to their child and will go to any end to make sure their child does not leave the table hungry", Dr. Naqvi says. " Few parents maintain the same attitude when it comes to sleep."

Typically, elementary-age children require 10 to 11 hours of sleep, and middle school-age and high school-age children require at least nine hours of sleep. In one study, most teenagers allowed to sleep without anyone awakening them slept for more than nine hours.

Lack of sleep can cause learning, behavioral problems
Dr. Naqvi says sleep-deprived children often experience excessive daytime sleepiness and exhibit symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, emotional problems and show poorer ability to tolerate frustration. Studies show sleep-deprived children experience more learning and behavioral problems.

"A child should not have to be blasted out of bed every morning - that is sleep deprivation," Dr. Naqvi says. "Children require as much sleep as it takes to wake up spontaneously and feel alert all day."

When allowed to sleep late over the summer, children will accomplish all of the sleep that they need, he explains. When school starts, everything changes because the child now has a requirement to be awake at a certain time.

"In general, school schedules are not in synch with the clock in a child's body," Dr. Naqvi says, adding that "most children frequently are still in need of more sleep when they are awakened for school. This problem is seen beginning in 5-or 6-year-olds and becomes most severe in teenagers."

Some school systems have moved the start of school an hour later to deal with these problems. Studies of children in these schools show they go to bed at the same time and sleep an hour more. The results are fewer late arrivals, fewer absences, better behavior and improved grades.

Dr. Naqvi suggests keeping a child's sleep schedule the same on weekdays and weekends to enable the child to begin sleep earlier on Sunday night, thereby beginning the school week well-rested.