Children on semester break at risk due to sleep irregularities

With the excitement of report cards in schools, the semester break has begun for approximately 20 million students. School-age children, who live on a set schedule 5 days a week, will have their sleep and daily life routines changed during the 2-week holiday. Experts, stating that changes in sleep patterns can bring negative consequences, are warning families. Prof. Dr. Vural Fidan, an Ear, Nose, and Throat Specialist and Head of the Sleep Center at Eskişehir City Hospital, stated that sleep irregularities that may occur in students during the semester break pose a danger to their physical and mental health, saying, “Behavioral problems such as attention deficit, hyperactivity, anger issues, and mood swings can emerge in children who do not get enough sleep.”

COMMON SLEEP PROBLEMS IN CHILDREN ARE LATE BEDTIMES AND CHANGING SLEEP HOURS

Stating that some problems can arise with the disruption of sleep patterns in school-age children during the semester break, Fidan said, “The semester break is a period that affects sleep patterns in children. During the holiday period, children may move away from their normal daily routines, and this can negatively affect their sleep patterns. Factors such as holiday travel, changes in accommodation, and family visits can cause sleep problems in children. Common sleep problems in children during this period are late bedtimes and changing sleep hours. Sleep problems can have negative effects on children's physical and mental health. Behavioral problems such as attention deficit, hyperactivity, anger issues, and mood swings can emerge in children who do not get enough sleep. Furthermore, sleep deprivation can increase the risk of obesity in children, affect the secretion of growth hormones, and cause the immune system to weaken,” he said.

APPROPRIATE SLEEP DURATION IS CRITICAL FOR CHILDREN

Saying that sleep durations vary according to age groups, Fidan stated, “Appropriate sleep durations for children vary according to their age and developmental stages. While it is recommended that children aged 3-5 sleep 10-13 hours a day, children aged 6-13 need to sleep 9-11 hours. During adolescence, a sleep duration of 8-10 hours is considered appropriate. Ensuring these sleep durations is important for children's development and health,” he said.

TECHNOLOGY SHOULD BE LIMITED FOR SLEEP REGULATION

There are some points that need to be considered to ensure sleep regulation and to protect against negative outcomes. Developing sleep habits, creating a regular sleep schedule, and putting children to bed at the same time every night can be beneficial in regulating children's sleep patterns. The effect of nutrition and exercise on sleep is also quite important. Especially avoiding heavy meals in the evening, reducing the consumption of caffeine and sugary drinks, and doing light exercise can improve sleep quality. Furthermore, the negative effects of technology on sleep should not be ignored. For this reason, the use of technological devices before sleep should be limited, and the bedroom should be turned into a quiet and dark environment.

News Source: İHA