By the time your child is in middle school, they’ve likely shifted from being a “baby” to a “toddler.” You no longer have to feed them or change their diapers, but you still have a lot of work to do when it comes to raising them. The best way that I’ve found is through plenty of sleep. Your child needs at least 8 hours every night and ideally more than 9! If your child isn’t getting enough sleep, there’s a good chance that they’ll be unable to pay attention in class or make new friends (or even play with toys). In this article we’ll discuss how sleep deprivation affects children and then give you some tips on how you can help your kids get better rest when they need it most:

The AAP recommends that 10- to 13-year-olds get 9 to 11 hours of sleep per night, and 14- to 17-year-olds get 8.5 to 9.5 hours.

This means that if your child wakes up in the morning feeling tired and sluggish, they’re probably not getting enough sleep at night. And if they’re falling asleep in class or struggling with concentration or memory issues throughout the day? You might have a problem on your hands–a serious one!

If your child regularly sleeps fewer than 10 hours a day — including naps — it could signal an underlying health issue like chronic illness or behavior problems.

If you’re concerned about your child’s sleep habits, talk with his or her doctor about what’s normal for his or her age group and any potential issues that could be affecting their sleeping patterns. In some cases, it may be necessary to seek out additional treatment options such as medication or therapy.

Here are some tips to help your child get ready for bedtime:

• Darken the room with shades or curtains and turn off electronics at least an hour before bedtime. Kids are stimulated by light, so make sure they’re sleeping in a dark environment. Electronics such as TVs, computers, phones and tablets can also be stimulating for kids–they should be turned off at least an hour before bedtime. This will allow them time to wind down before going to sleep.
• Don’t eat or drink in their bedroom (except water). If you have young children who still nurse at night, try nursing them somewhere other than their bedroom so they associate eating with being awake rather than asleep when it’s time for lights out! The same goes for beverages; if they need something to drink while reading books together as part of their ritual before lights out/bedtime routine, set up a mini fridge nearby where parents can serve drinks without having them spill all over everything else inside your house!
• Keep pets away from sleeping areas unless specifically invited onto beds themselves.* When possible avoid allowing pets into bedrooms altogether because some people may find this disturbing due to allergies or other concerns related specifically toward certain kinds of animals like cats which tend not only shed hair but also leave behind dander particles which could irritate sensitive noses belonging specifically toward those allergic individuals who might otherwise benefit greatly from having access

• How much screen time is too much?
• What are some good alternatives to screen time?
• What are the benefits of limiting screen time?

When your child is getting ready to go to bed, make sure they don’t have anything else on their schedule. If they are used to watching TV or playing video games before bed, stop this practice immediately. The same goes for eating a snack before going to sleep; it will only disrupt their natural circadian rhythm and make them more energized.

Similarly, do not allow your child any caffeine or soda during the day (especially right before bed). These drinks can also interfere with their ability to fall asleep naturally and may cause insomnia later in life if continued into adulthood.

For most children between ages 6-12 years old who eat dinner at around 6pm every day should be fine since that gives them plenty of time before going off into dream land at 9pm on average (though some kids may need less sleep than others). However if your child has a tendency towards being hyperactive then consider having them eat earlier so there isn’t as much energy stored up throughout the day which could cause problems later on once everyone starts winding down for bedtime activities like reading books together etcetera…

Sleep is a vital part of childhood and is essential for proper development. Getting enough sleep not only helps your child get ready for school, but it also helps them stay healthy and improve their mood and behavior. If your child isn’t getting enough sleep or has trouble falling asleep at night, talk to their doctor about what you can do together to make things better.

Please do not hesitate to contact us for more information on the subject.