Many school children do not get enough sleep and it is affecting their ability to learn.

You know how you feel after a late night. You just do not function a your best the next day. Your mental efficiency is impaired and you tend to be irritable and restless.

Unfortunately, a child may feel this way every day if he is not getting enough sleep.

Sleep is an important aspect of good health. The nervous system cannot function efficiently for long without it.

Growing evidence suggests that sleep prepares the brain for normal function.

The brain takes in a great deal of information during the day. It then needs time to rationalise, disperse and store the day's intake. If it does not have adequate sleep, mental efficiency is reduced the next day.

Growth and tissue repair take place during sleep. A study carried out on children showed that, during a period of poor sleep, they only grew one-third of the normal rate.

Besides this, insufficient sleep can affect a child's feelings and social behaviour. Over tiredness makes a child irritable, grouchy and more prone to quarrel or fight. It also makes him restless, fidgety and unable to sit still and concentrate. This can mean he will miss out on important learning opportunities. Sadly, such a child may get mislabelled as "hyperactive''.

You know how much sleep you need to feel and perform well. It is important to determine the optimum amount of sleep your child needs too.

The amount of sleep each individual needs varies. Primary aged children need between 10 to 12 hours sleep, teens nine to 10 hours sleep and adults seven to eight hours.

It would seem that a number of Bermuda's school children do not get enough sleep. Although this may be due to any number of reasons -- watching TV and video is one of the main reasons.

Many children fight against going to bed at a reasonable hour. You have to be firm in the best interest of your child. A consistent but not rigid bedtime routine is helpful. A quiet relaxing time before bed, a story and a noise free environment all help make bedtime more pleasant. If your child is not ready for sleep it is important to get him in his bed and let him look at books or play with toys until he drops off to sleep.

Establish a healthy sleeping pattern for your child to ensure he can function efficiently and have the best opportunity possible to learn.

HEALTH HTH