Help Your Kids Adjust Sleep Patterns Before Back-to-School

The annual focus on back-to-school is again in high gear. As you look for the best sales on supplies and clothing, here’s a reminder not to overlook a critical need for your kids to start the new school year off on the right foot by helping them adjust their sleep cycles to fit their school schedule before the first day.

Summer is a season when kids, and particularly teenagers, often experience more freedom in their daily schedules. Typically, they stay up later at night and sleep later during the day in summer than during the school year. By now, they have gotten out of their typical school routines.

If kids wait until school starts to adjust their sleep cycles, it’s likely they won’t begin with the focus and energy they need in the classroom. “Re-establishing a regular school-time sleep schedule can take several weeks. So, it’s important to start resetting that internal clock early,” said Kris Sekar, medical director of the sleep lab a The Children’s Hospital at Oklahoma State University Medical Center. “A series of small adjustments in the sleep and wake-up times is best and should start right away.”

Current research suggests that most teens don’t get the adequate eight to nine hours of sleep per night that experts suggest, and one study found that a third fall asleep in school twice daily. This lack of sleep is also linked to poor school performance.

It’s likely that your kids will want to get every last drop out of their remaining summer freedom, and so parents should expect some resistance in trying to reset their sleeping patterns. But because adequate sleep plays a big factor in academic achievement, parents should wrestle this “back-to-school” bear sooner rather than later.

Help us reach the next generation of families

Donate
Back to Top

Jim Liebelt

Jim is Senior Writer, Editor and Researcher for HomeWord. Jim has 40 years of experience as a youth and family ministry specialist, having served over the years as a pastor, author, editor, consultant, mentor, trainer, college instructor, and speaker. Jim’s HomeWord Culture Blog also appears on Crosswalk.com. Jim and his wife Jenny live in Quincy, MA.

  • About HomeWord

    HomeWord helps families succeed by creating Biblical resources that build strong marriages, confident parents, empowered kids and healthy leaders. Founded by Jim Burns, HomeWord seeks to advance the work of God in the world by educating, equipping, and encouraging parents and churches. Learn More »

  • Support Our Mission

    HomeWord is non-profit, donor supported ministry. If you would like to partner with HomeWord in our effort to help more parents and families you can make a donation. Your investment will allow us to expand this ministry by offering more resources to families and churches in need.

  • Contact Information

    • HomeWord
      PO Box 1600
      San Juan Capistrano, CA
      92693

    • Send us an email

    • 800-397-9725
      (M-F: 8:30am-5pm PST)

Close