More kids hitting the snooze button, new study reports

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Are your kids getting enough zzz’s? If so, they are in rare company. 

In a recent survey conducted by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM), 57% of parents report their children aren’t getting enough sleep. 

“Even though students may not need to catch the bus or carpool this school year, they should continue with morning and bedtime routines,” said AASM president, Dr. Kannan Ramar, in a news release. “This means getting up and going to bed at consistent times so they get enough sleep on a regular basis. 

Forty percent of parents say lack of sleep is because of early school times and 39% say it’s too much homework. Sports and social media also interfere. 

To help students, AASM recommends developing a relaxing, nightly routine and no screens before bedtime. Noise machines or a fan to mask out late night household noise will also help. 

For optimal health, kids ages 6 to 12 should get 9 to 12 hours of sleep per night. Teens ages 13 to 19 should aim between 8 and 10.

News 8’s medical reporter, Dr. Mary Elizabeth Gillis, D.Ed., is a classically trained medical physiologist and biobehavioral research scientist. She has been a health, medical and science reporter for over 5 years. Her work has been featured in national media outlets. You can follow her on Instagram @reportergillis and Facebook @DrMaryGillis.