1
View comments
Six out of 10 kids get too little sleep - because they're hooked on tablets and TV.
And almost as many (57%) of two-to-11-year-olds don't have a regular bedtime.
Digital overload and poor parenting have led to a nationwide crisis in sleeping habits.
Four out of 10 have a TV or tablet in their bedroom and almost a quarter (23%) of children do not have a bedtime story
Two thirds ( 65%) of children also experience difficulty falling asleep or suffer from sleep problems such as sleep talking or walking, which can further diminish sleep quality
Four out of 10 have a TV or tablet in their bedroom and almost a quarter (23%) of children do not have a bedtime story.
The survey of 2064 adults who care for a child aged between 2-11 years, carried out by The Junior Fine Bedding Company, reveals that 57% of children aged two-to-four are getting less than the recommended 11.5 hours sleep a night.
The problem is even more pronounced in children of school age, with 63% of four-to-seven-year olds and 65% of eight-11 years olds getting less than the recommended hours (over 10.5 hours and 9.5 hours respectively).
Shockingly only 61% of children aged 2-4 years enjoyed a regular bedtime routine, with this figure dropping to just 24% for children aged 8-11
Experts claim a lack of sleep can affect learning and memory ability which is closely linked to academic performance. Obesity, a reduced immune system, bad moods and behaviour and even depression have also been tied to sleep deprivation in children.
Many experts attribute the presence of TVs and computers in children's bedrooms as a major cause of the problem, resulting in over-stimulation of the brain and delaying the time that children go to bed.
The survey revealed that four in ten children aged 4-11 years had a TV or ipad in their bedroom with 'watching TV', 'playing computer games' and 'phoning/texting friends' listed amongst the top culprits behind a later bedtime.
The survey also indicated that busy lifestyles and the additional demands and pressures on our nation's children are having a detrimental impact on their sleep habits. 'After school clubs and activities', 'Homework' and 'Parents working or returning home late' were also listed as reasons behind late bedtimes. Worryingly, only 67% of 2-4 year olds, 57% of 4-7 year olds and 48% of 8-11 year olds were found to have a regular bedtime.
Shockingly only 61% of child ren aged 2-4 years enjoyed a regular bedtime routine, with this figure dropping to just 24% for children aged 8-11. The most popular elements of the bedtime routine included having a bath, story time/reading, a hot drink and talking about the day.
Almost a quarter (23%) of children do not have a story at bedtime and of those that do, one in 5 get a story just once a week.
Sara Wadsworth from The Junior Fine Bedding Company said: "Today's busy lifestyles appear to be having a detrimental impact on the amount and quality of sleep that our children are getting, squeezing the time available for a regular bedtime and bedtime routine.
Over-stimulation from TV's and computer/tablet screens is further adding to the problem by reducing the child's ability to get to sleep and also the quality of sleep they are then able to enjoy."
Source: Six in ten children don't get enough sleep: Warning poor parenting and youngsters being glued to TVs or other devices is leading to a crisis in rest habits
No comments:
Post a Comment