Answer honestly: Are you getting enough sleep? What about your kids?

Pediatrician Marla Abrolat, MD, says many children are suffering from lack of sleep, just like their parents. According to Dr. Abrolat, more than 80 percent of teens aren’t getting enough sleep, which can lead to poor concentration at school and cause even more serious problems.

"Many of the car accidents teens get into are related to lack of sleep," Dr. Abrolat says. "They don’t have the same insight and history of driving as we do, so they are much more susceptible to making mistakes when deprived of sleep."

Think you have a handle on healthy sleep habits? Answer a few simple questions to see if you’re sleep savvy.

1. How many hours of sleep do kids need?

A. Whatever makes them happy

B. 6 to 8 hours, like adults

C. It depends on age

A. Try again. It’s important that you monitor the amount of sleep your child gets.

B. Try again. Even eight hours isn’t enough for your teen.

C. You got it! Age is the biggest factor. The younger your child, the more sleep he or she needs:

• Newborn to one year old: 16 hours
• One year old: 13 to 14 hours
• Preschool to kindergarten: 10 hours including a nap
• Grade school to high school: Nine hours.

2. On average, are our children getting enough sleep?

A. Yes

B. No

A. Maybe babies, but not the rest. Dr. Abrolat says more than half of grade school children and a shocking 80 percent of high school students aren’t getting the sleep they need.

B. Correct. While babies tend to get enough sleep, our grade school and high school children get far less (50 percent and 80 percent) than they should.

3. What are some of the signs that your child is not getting enough sleep?

A. Hyperactivity

B. Crankiness

C. Disorganized napping

D. Difficulty concentrating

A. Yes. Believe it or not, younger kids often become hyperactive and fidgety when they haven’t had enough sleep.

B. Yes. Children of all ages can become moody when sleep deprived.

C. Yes. High school students are especially prone to taking after-school naps that further interrupts the sleep routine.

D. Yes. Concentration is one of the first things to suffer with sleep deprivation, affecting the quality of schoolwork.

4. What can parents do to help kids get more sleep?

A. Make sure they eat right and get plenty of exercise

B. Remove electronics from their rooms

C. Set routines

D. Make weekends count

A. Yes. Healthy and balanced kids sleep better—it’s that simple.

B. Yes. Getting rid of electronics gets rid of the temptation to stay up late. TV, video games, and texting are often the causes of sleep deprivation, especially for teenagers.

C. Yes. Children need routines, and setting them early will help set their internal clocks for a lifetime. For youngsters, try "book, bath, bed" to help them transition to sleep.

D. Yes. Many parents let their children stay up too late on the weekends. This can make for "jet lag" Mondays, and hurt patterns throughout the week. Try to make weekend bedtime within 1 to 2 hours of the school-night schedule.

filed in: Healthy Kids
subjects: childrens-health, sleep