Tips for adjusting your child’s sleep schedule for school

The first day of school is right around the corner, and many kids are going to have a hard time waking up.

If a child’s wake-up time is a lot different from when school starts, that transitional period is even more important. Otherwise, the child could wind up dealing with sleep deprivation, making it harder for them to concentrate in class. It can also impact their energy level.

“It’s important to start that transition early, so that there’s not a big jump whenever you get back to going to school, and there’s not going to be that whiplash where you’re kind of real tired, maybe, for the first few weeks of school,” said Dr. Brian Chen, a sleep specialist.

The transitional period for every child is going to be different, depending on when they normally wake up. So if there is a big gap between when they wake up now and when school starts, he suggests parents change their sleep routine sooner than later.

If your child’s sleep schedule doesn’t seem to be improving with time, contact their pediatrician for further guidance.