We all want our children to be healthy. Unfortunately, the trends with school kids today seem to be less activity, a poor diet, and more time spent playing video games and messing around with other electronics. But these are lifestyle habits that moms and dads can easily turn around. In fact, a few simple changes can make all the difference in keeping your kids healthy this school year.
Getting enough sleep is an important healthy habit. The latest research indicates that sleeping problems in children, such as sleep apnea, are very closely tied to obesity, academic performance,
and behavior problems. One study out of Spain found that kids who didn’t get adequate sleep were more likely to have problems with language and memory.
Another concluded that poor bedtime habits led to tantrums, low self-confidence, and, in some cases, misdiagnosis of ADHD.“I usually recommend
allowing some flexibility with normal sleep schedules during summer, especially during times of vacationing, movie nights, and sleepovers,” says Tyeshia Babineaux,
MD, a pediatrician with Texas Children’s Pediatrics Associates in Houston. But now that kids are back to school, they should be back to a regular sleep schedule, too.
