As a parent, you already know some of the consequences your child may face when they don’t get enough sleep:

• Crabbiness
• Temper tantrums
• Tardiness to school
• Under performance in school, athletic and social activities

What many parents don’t know and sceintists are now theorizing is that:

“Sleep problems during formative years can cause permanent changes in a child’s brain structure: damage that one can’t sleep off like a hangover. It’s even possible that many of the hallmark characteristics of being a tweener and teen—moodiness, depression, and even binge eating—are actually symptoms of chronic sleep deprivation.”

Studies are finding that lack of sleep can even set your child’s cognitive ability back a number of years.  In other words, a sleepy 8th grader may perform in class at the level of a 6th grader.

What may be frustrating to children and parents, is that you can’t control what time school starts. However, what you have some control over is your child’s activity schedule.  It’s not easy to change a child’s routine, whether they are 6 or 16, but it is possible. Encouraging your child to get to bed a half hour earlier can make a difference. You can start gradually, going to bed just a few minutes earlier each night over a 4 week period.

I recommend you read this article to get more of the facts: Snooze or Lose

via: How to Change the World