Rise & Shine: How to Get Kids on a Back-to-School Sleep Schedule by Dr. Bridget Boyd


Rise & Shine: How to Get Kids on a Back-to-School Sleep Schedule

One of the hardest parts of back-to-school, especially for teenagers, is the back-to-school sleep schedule. After a summer of being up late then sleeping until noon, that early morning alarm can feel like torture. The best way to get kids back on track is to start a few weeks before school. 

Every night, move the alarm about 15 minutes closer to school wake-up time. Even high-schoolers need at least eight hours of sleep a night, so start getting them to bed earlier, too. According to the National Sleep Foundation, here's the recommended amounts of sleep for school-age kids:

  • Preschoolers (3-5 years of age): 10-13 hours of sleep per day
  • School-aged Children (6-13 years of age): 9-11 hours of sleep per day
  • Teenagers (14-17 years of age): 8-10 hours of sleep per day
  • Young Adults (18-25 years of age): 7-9 hours of sleep per day

Read more about sleep requirements for kids.

Elisa Schmitz
Great info to have! We all need more sleep. Thanks for this great tip, Dr. Bridget Boyd !
Ann Marie Patitucci
Thank you. I know I need to get working on this so the transition isn't too painful come September! :) Thanks, Dr. Bridget Boyd !
Nicole DeAvilla
I love that you posted the number of hours each age group needs. Not many people are aware of this!
Mike Prochaska
This going to be stuggle again this year

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