Learning Commons Update

Learning Commons Update
Posted on 03/28/2017
Laying in GrassWhen children are young, parents structure their days from wake-up time to a set bedtime. As children grow, their needs and their schedules change as well. I‛m sure parents have witnessed many transformations in their middle school children - the desire to hang out with their peers more, the obsession with their phones, the challenging of any authority. These are typical characteristics of a teen. However, one thing that hasn't changed is the need for rest to recharge the body and the mind.

A new study from King‛s College London found that children between the ages of 6 and 19 that used electronic devices within 90 minutes of falling asleep were more likely to sleep badly and be sleepy during the day, which also can contribute to poor diet choices (Natural Awakenings, March 2017). This does not surprise me. I was aware that blue light, which is emitted by electronic devices, can interrupt our natural circadian cycles and throw off sleep (Schmerler, 2017). Parents can combat this by establishing good bedtime habits during their child‛s teenage years. Then as children grow up, they will have practiced what works best for their bodies according to scientific research. Even though teenagers may look like young adults, they still need the adults in their lives to teach what is best for them. This can include patterns of activity before sleep that benefits them during the night and the following day.

References
"Kids Going Online At Bedtime Sleep Poorly". Naturalawakeningsboston.com. N.p., 2017. Web. 9 Mar. 2017.

Schmerler, Jessica. "Q&A: Why Is Blue Light Before Bedtime Bad For Sleep?". Scientific American. N.p., 2017. Web. 9 Mar. 2017.
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