UNDATED – A new study shows children who don’t have regular bedtimes during the school week are more likely to have problems with their behavior by age 7. Researchers say that’s because going to bed at different times disrupts a child’s developing brain and natural sleep cycles.
Kids are supposed to get anywhere from 10 to 12 hours of sleep and researchers say the longer the kids in the study went without a regular bedtime, the worse their behavior got.
“Those behavioral problems include things like hyperactivity, emotional problems, conduct problems, and problems with their peers,” Yvonne Kelly, author of the study.
If you’re already dealing with those types of issues, the good news is it’s not too late. Children who switched to a more normal sleeping schedule saw clear improvements in their behavior. Health experts say one sleep tip for both children and adults is no computers, televisions, or mobile devices an hour before bed.