Can using portable media hurt a child’s sleep? A recent review of the data seems to suggest that when teenagers and children use their tablets and smartphones at night they don’t get enough sleep. Add to it, they are sleepier during the day.
According to information from The Mayo Clinic, the recommended amount of sleep for children varies by age. For example, for a newborn it is recommended that the baby get 14-17 hours a day. A year old is recommended to get 10 hours at night and 4 hours of naps during the day. While a teenager aged 14-17 is recommended to get 8-10 hours of sleep.
The data analyzed, and reported in news reports, looked at 20 other studies which found that, “kids using portable media devices around bedtime were more than twice as likely as kids who didn’t use them to have short sleep times, but so were kids who had access to such devices at night but didn’t use them.”
A review of the data focused on children 6 to 19 years old, with a concentration on exposure to portable media. For example, smartphones and tablets were included but media like television and PCs were not included. The study included more than 125,000 children for analysis.
Children with poor sleeping habits can have a hard time concentrating on tasks throughout the day as a simple example of the importance of proper rest. Add to this, a lack of sleep can lead to other serious medical conditions, with some suggesting that it can play a role in the development of dementia later in life.
To read more about the study from the article in support of this post, click HERE.
