Tired kids!

[Keeperofthebandaids, BSN, RN]

Happy Monday! Already today I have seen a kinder that reports being up at 10pm and a 3rd grader up at 4am watching Youtube! Of course they have a headache! Anyone have a good handout with sleep education for children?

[ihavealltheice]

Nope. I inform them that this is a good life lesson ?

[tining, BSN, RN]

Sleep is so important for children. I can say I am not shocked anymore when it comes to bedtimes. I must be jaded as my son never questioned an appropriate bedtime.

[Nursesusu]

K-4 here. Our start time is 7 am this year. I'm more apt to have mercy on the littlins and let them take a quick nap on my cot. The older ones who chose to stay up and play FortNite? Not so much. Natural consequences, I say....

19 hours ago, Nursesusu said:

Our start time is 7 am this year

SO early!! My old school where I worked the doors opened at 7:15 for breakfast but students did not have to be there until 7:45. But so many, especially the littles who came for breakfast would fall asleep on the way to school, at breakfast, etc. Long day for these kids, especially when there is little or no structure after school and no set bedtime.

[k1p1ssk, BSN, RN]

If a kiddo comes to me very tired and says they've stayed up late playing video games, on their tablet, etc. I will let them come nap during recess only. If they are obviously sick, or I know about other circumstances that might cause them to miss sleep, then I'll make an exception. Overall, the teachers at my school won't allow a student to come to my office because they are "tired". It is a rarity for me, thankfully, but I do have one 6th grade student who struggles with anxiety and other mental health problems which occasionally keep him awake at night. I'm in communication with his parents about this and he is happy to skip recess to take a 25 minute nap. If that is what his body needs, then I am happy to accommodate that, and he doesn't abuse the privilege.

[MrNurse(x2), ADN]

On 1/13/2020 at 1:45 PM, Nursesusu said:

K-4 here. Our start time is 7 am this year. I'm more apt to have mercy on the littlins and let them take a quick nap on my cot. The older ones who chose to stay up and play FortNite? Not so much. Natural consequences, I say....

No offense, but this is reverse thinking. Littles require less sleep than their older siblings, and littles are more apt to awaken early.

[Nursesusu]

Good point. When they're falling asleep in the cereal at their desk tho...

[ruby_jane, BSN, RN]

21 hours ago, k1p1ssk said:

If a kiddo comes to me very tired and says they've stayed up late playing video games, on their tablet, etc. I will let them come nap during recess only. If they are obviously sick, or I know about other circumstances that might cause them to miss sleep, then I'll make an exception. Overall, the teachers at my school won't allow a student to come to my office because they are "tired". It is a rarity for me, thankfully, but I do have one 6th grade student who struggles with anxiety and other mental health problems which occasionally keep him awake at night. I'm in communication with his parents about this and he is happy to skip recess to take a 25 minute nap. If that is what his body needs, then I am happy to accommodate that, and he doesn't abuse the privilege.

You are a kind nurse. I believe in natural consequences, but also in a disco nap at lunch or recess if the cot is available.

I also call a parent and let the student explain why s/he chose to leave math class because allofasudden s/he is tired. Sometimes that does the trick.

[Keeperofthebandaids, BSN, RN]

Thank you all for your input! I guess I was looking for a handout I could send home to the parent with the suggested hours of sleep for different ages!

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

Sleep Research Society (FB and Twitter) has numerous studies, infographics and the like related to kids and sleep. My daughter is a pre-school Special Ed teacher and uses the info to share with parents.

[ruby_jane, BSN, RN]

On 1/15/2020 at 12:52 PM, Keeperofthebandaids said:

Thank you all for your input! I guess I was looking for a handout I could send home to the parent with the suggested hours of sleep for different ages!

One size will never fit all, Keeper. And unfortunately any potential benefit gained from sending the handout will be mitigated by 1) the number of parents who don't read it and 2) the number of parents who take issue with what you have to say.