Student Services Sleep Resources
The time is coming again for daylight savings to spring our clocks forward. While restorative sleep has always been important for healthy growth and development, it has been more elusive and, at the same time, more essential during the global pandemic.
Lack of adequate sleep has a direct impact on students’ physical and emotional health and can negatively impact academic progress. When a student misses school just 2 school days per month, they miss out on 10% of learning opportunities in a school year. Lack of restful sleep can also impact a student’s ability to learn new information during the school day, even when they are physically present. While the things that keep us up at night may often feel outside of our control, there are some concrete ways to support healthy sleep habits (for example: limiting screen time and phone access at night, developing sustainable bedtime routines, and utilizing natural supports to develop healthy coping mechanisms to manage stress).
Here are the recommended hours of sleep per age group according to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine:
Children 3 to 5 years of age should sleep 10 to 13 hours per 24 hours (including naps) on a regular basis to promote optimal health.
Children 6 to 12 years of age should sleep 9 to 12 hours per 24 hours on a regular basis to promote optimal health.
Teenagers 13 to 18 years of age should sleep 8 to 10 hours per 24 hours on a regular basis to promote optimal health.
If you or a family member could use some help getting a better night’s sleep, check out the resources below. Your child’s pediatrician may be another good partner to help your family with sleep concerns.
Mrs. Beth Flynn
Primary School Counselor (K-2)
412-247-7970 x9413
Ms. Laura (Davidson) Brienza
Intermediate School Counselor (3-5)
412-247-7970 x2404
Mrs. Andrea Szolna
Middle School Counselor (6-8)
412-247-7970 x9556
Mrs. Jennifer Bruni
High School Counselor (9–12)
412-247-7970 x9523