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Study: Technology keeps school-age kids up late at night
Posted: Aug 26, 2010 5:59 AM by BT
Updated: Aug 26, 2010 6:21 AM
It's a big back-to-school week across the country and that means resetting the kids' sleep schedule. All that technology that kids now have access to can lead to sleep and study problems, according to new research.
Today's kids live in a 24/7 electronic world. Cell phones, texting, social networking and computers don't leave much time for much-needed sleep. "It's necessary to disengage, that means turning off the electronics, doing a little bit of wind down to transition your body into sleep mode," said Dr. Helene Emsellem, Director of the Center for Sleep and Weight Disorders.
High School senior Alex Elich admits she stays awake texting friends late at night. "Text them now and actually have a social life, or go to bed and be a loser?" she said.
These numbers might surprise you. About 75 percent of 12 to 17-year-olds have cell phones; 77 percent of 17-year-olds text their friends daily and just 34-percent communicate with their friends face-to-face.
Many educators believe after-hours social networking leaves many students too tired to concentrate in the classroom. "The occasional I'm up late incident is not a big issue, but students are really getting sleep deprived night after night," said High School principal Steve McWilliams.
Sleep experts recommend a 'lights-out' time for both students and their gadgets.
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