Comments on Parenting With Dignity: Sleep Deprived Students and ADD

Agreed, the sleep needs for different ages of chil...

2007-10-02T15:49:00.000-07:00

Agreed, the sleep needs for different ages of children differ, however, that does not change the fact that many are simply sleep deprived! Parents must take control and teach their children to schedule time for sleep!

Mac

IMO the first commenter was too bland, or too dipl...

2007-09-22T07:43:00.000-07:00

IMO the first commenter was too bland, or too diplomatic, on this matter. I agree with the head teacher in an Independent (UK) article last week: http://news.independent.co.uk/education/article2964460.ece He says "We have always assumed that learning early in the morning is best, probably because it is best for young children and adults.... Unfortunately, it is not true for teenagers. When teenagers are woken up at our morning time, their brain tells them they should be asleep." This agrees with anonymous pediatrician above: "[T]he normal cycle for teens is a bit different than younger children and adults. [M]elatonin release by the pineal gland is later in teens." So if schools start at 10 for teens, the kids are likely to go to bed at the same time as now, and gain two hours sleep per night. This should be to everyone's advantage, with the possible exception of some teachers, but they could just schedule all their meetings for 8 a.m. and go home when the teens do.

right on !!as a pediatrician, I'd agree; but do ne...

2007-09-19T18:37:00.000-07:00

right on !!
as a pediatrician, I'd agree; but do need to add that the normal cycle for teens is a bit different than younger children and adults.
melatonin release by the pineal gland is later in teens. while this adds to the problem, it does not change any of Mac's comments, but it may add a combined role for schools and parents.