Sleep Mastery: School-Age
Tools, research, and external resources referenced in this module.14 resources available.
3 tools available
A kid-friendly self-assessment to build sleep awareness and ownership
A sign-together agreement between parent and child for screen-free evenings
Enter your child's age and wake-up time to get their recommended bedtime
A longitudinal study found that sleep duration—independent of IQ and family factors—significantly predicts academic success.
This single environmental factor—screens in bedrooms—is one of the strongest predictors of insufficient sleep in school-age children.
Blue light is only one of three mechanisms by which screens affect sleep. Content arousal and time displacement also matter.
Poor sleep makes the amygdala (fear center) more reactive while reducing prefrontal cortex regulation. This creates a vicious cycle with anxiety.
CBT is the most effective treatment for childhood anxiety, and it addresses both anxiety and sleep problems simultaneously.
Caffeine has a 5-6 hour half-life, so afternoon caffeine is still active at bedtime, disrupting sleep in children even more than adults.
Pre-pubescent children start experiencing melatonin delay before other puberty signs appear, making bedtime resistance biological, not just behavioral.
Memory consolidation requires sleep. Without adequate sleep, the studying done the day before may not be retained.
Sleep is essential for athletic recovery and performance. Many elite athletes prioritize 10-12 hours of sleep.
Chronic snoring, especially with pauses or gasping, often indicates sleep apnea that affects behavior, learning, and growth.
Research shows that sleep patterns and habits formed during childhood strongly predict adult sleep health.
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