DARIEN, IL – Students preparing for success this school year should commit to getting the healthy sleep they need to learn, function and grow. Yet, according to research published by the Sleep Research Society, there is a knowledge gap when it comes to parents’ beliefs about age-appropriate sleep requirements and habits among children.* That’s why the Sleep Research Society is highlighting the importance of healthy sleep for students as part of the first-ever Student Sleep Health Week, Sept. 14-20, 2020.

“It is important that we advocate for the sleep health of our youth, especially during the back-to-school season,” said H. Craig Heller, PhD, president of the Sleep Research Society. “Abundant research has shown the importance of adequate and quality sleep for maximizing mental and physical performance and for maintaining emotional stability. Families need to be aware of current recommendations for sleep durations and timings for children and teens. Student Sleep Health Week is the perfect time to drive conversations and encourage healthy sleep habits for students so they can excel in the classroom and other daily activities.

Healthy sleep gives children and teens the best chance to learn, perform, interact and succeed in life, and it has a positive impact on grades, athletic performance and other daily activities. When children and teens don’t get the recommended hours of healthy sleep on a regular basis, it can contribute to long-term issues including behavior and learning problems, diabetes, obesity and mental health problems.

To promote optimal health, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) recommends children 6-12 years of age sleep nine to 12 hours on a regular basis, while teenagers 13-18 years of age should sleep eight to 10 hours per night. However, a recent survey shows that children and teens are not getting enough sleep on school nights, according to more than half (57%) of parents.**

The first annual Student Sleep Health Week empowers parents, students and educators – including teachers, school administrators, counselors, nurses, physical educators and more – who all play a crucial role in promoting healthy sleep habits for students.

For more information about Student Sleep Health Week, please visit sleepeducation.org/student-sleep-health-week.

*H Rao, C McNamara, D Kitch, A Lisa, 1002 SLEEP DURATION, SLEEP HYGIENE AND PARENTS’ SLEEP KNOWLEDGE OF CHILDREN REFERRED FOR POLYSOMNOGRAPHY, Sleep, Volume 40, Issue suppl_1, 28 April 2017, Pages A372–A373, https://doi.org/10.1093/sleepj/zsx050.1001

**AASM July 2020 Consumer Survey – https://aasm.org/about/newsroom

About Student Sleep Health Week

The first-ever Student Sleep Health Week is Sept. 14-20, 2020, to encourage students to get the healthy sleep they need to excel this school year. There will be online events throughout the week with the hashtag #StudentSleepWeek. Join the conversation and learn all about the importance of sleep for students, including healthy sleep tips and more. Supporting partners include:  American Academy of Sleep Medicine, American School Counselor Association, American School Health Association, National Association of School Nurses, National PTA, National Safety Council, Project Sleep, Sleep Research Society, and Society of Health and Physical Educators.

 About the Sleep Research Society

The Sleep Research Society (SRS) is a professional membership society that advances sleep and circadian science. The SRS provides forums for the collaboration and the exchange of ideas, education and training for students in sleep and circadian science, and collaborates with other organizations to foster scientific investigation on sleep and its disorders. The SRS also publishes the peer-reviewed, scientific journals SLEEP and SLEEP Advances.