Here is another reason why kids should not stay up late. A current study shows that adolescents who get a good amount of sleep, score higher in math subjects and perform better in physical education, when compared to those who sleep too little or sleep too much.

The main purpose of the study was to analyze how sleep patterns can affect student’s academic performance. Researchers focused in on a sample of almost 600 students, aged from 12 to 19 years old. The students answered questionnaires “aimed at measuring the quality of sleep [and] level of sleepiness”. Their academic performance was measured in terms of mean grade in common subjects. Those who slept between 6 to 10 hours, which is considered an average sleeping pattern, “got significantly better score, as compared to those with a short (6 hours or less per night) or long (more than 9 hours per night) pattern of sleep”. Researchers also found that those who were able to fall asleep quickly (less than 15 minutes) after lying in bed perform especially better in both subjects.

The sleep that your children miss out on during the night may be stealing focus and energy from them the next day.

Original Article

Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111020025758.htm