Lack of sleep can turn even an ordinary school day into a real ordeal for a child. The Ministry of Health has reminded how many hours of sleep schoolchildren need and has given recommendations to Kazakhstani parents, reports infohub.kz.
As doctors note, sleep duration directly depends on age. Children aged 6 to 12 are recommended to sleep 9–12 hours a day, and teenagers aged 13 to 18 — 8–10 hours. However, not only duration matters, but also regularity: it is desirable that the child goes to bed and wakes up at about the same time.
Full rest is closely linked to attention, memory, and the ability to absorb new information. A well-rested child finds it much easier to concentrate in class and cope with the academic load.
Special attention should be paid to first-graders. A new daily routine, early rises, lessons, and an abundance of new impressions require time to adapt. If the child gets tired quickly, in the first weeks of school they can be given an additional daytime rest of up to two hours.
If over the summer the child got used to going to bed well after midnight and waking up closer to noon, a sharp change in schedule is not worth it. It is better to gradually shift bedtime and wake-up time earlier. Experts advise following a few simple rules: put the child to bed and wake them at about the same time; reduce active games a few hours before sleep; limit the use of smartphones, tablets, and computers in the evening; replace gadgets with calm activities — reading, walking, or talking; air the room before bed and maintain a comfortable temperature.
At the same time, do not sacrifice nighttime sleep for extra classes, homework, or entertainment. Regular lack of sleep can lead to concentration problems and reduce the child's performance during the school day.
"It is better to return to the school routine now — then by the start of classes, early rises and timely bedtime will not become a sharp test for the child," the Ministry of Health said.