Kids 'need a sleep schedule'

Not only do children and teenagers need a lot of sleep, they also need a consistent sleep schedule and a regular bedtime, according to Sarah Honaker from the University of Louisville's Paediatric Medicine Centre.

She said: "I think it really improves the quality of life for the child and the child's mood."

Ms Honaker also stated that sleep deprivation can affect performance at school as it impairs learning, as well as physical health, the Northwestern reports.

Furthermore, parents should not wait until the last minute to get children back into a school-year sleep schedule, she added.

Elsewhere, the National Sleep Foundation claims many children are not getting enough sleep.

It recommends nine to 11 hours a night for children aged between five and 12 and 8.5 to 9.5 hours for teenagers.

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