Parents urged to prioritise children's sleep before the new school year to improve focus and health

As the new academic year approaches, health experts emphasise the importance of adjusting children’s sleep routines early to ensure better concentration, mood, and overall health during the school term.

As the new school year looms, parents are often busy with shopping lists and forms, yet sleep may be the most important item on the back-to-school checklist. Health experts speaking on “Your Health Today” said children who have drifted into later summer nights need time to ease back into a steadier routine, rather than trying to make the change overnight.

That matters because sleep loss can quickly show up in the classroom. The Sleep Foundation says children and teenagers who do not get enough rest are more likely to struggle with concentration, mood and co-ordination, while the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute warns that short-term sleep deprivation can cause drowsiness, irritability and reduced alertness. Over time, inadequate sleep is also linked with more serious health risks, including high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity and diabetes. The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development says insufficient sleep can also affect attention and mood in children.

Teenagers can be especially hard to reset. Puberty naturally pushes the body clock later, which can make early bedtimes difficult even when teens are tired. Experts say that makes it even more important to start adjusting sleep patterns before the first day back, rather than waiting until the night before classes resume. Children’s Health recommends beginning the shift at least a week or two in advance, moving bedtime and wake-up time earlier in small steps.

Parents can also help by making the evening calmer and more predictable. That can mean cutting back on screens before bed, keeping devices out of bedrooms and avoiding schedules so packed with sport and activities that children have no time to wind down. The goal, health specialists say, is simple: children who arrive at school rested are more likely to be ready to learn, remember and take part fully in the day.