How Much Time Should a Child Aged 12 and Over Sleep?

2023-04-29 10:52:09

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Sleep is an important part for children in helping restore a tired body condition. / Photo: illustration/parenting

JAKARTA – sleep is an important part for children in helping to restore a tired body condition. And the question is, how many hours should children sleep?

Chief Indonesian Pediatrician Association (IDAI), dr. Piprim Basarah Yanuarso, SpA(K), said that each child’s sleeping hours vary or are not the same.

The younger the child, the higher the need for sleep. However, as the child gets older, the need for sleep decreases.

“For sleep problems, the needs are different, the younger the child, the more sleep he needs, the longer it takes,” said dr. Piprim in the online webinar What Illnesses Experience After Eid, some time ago.

He also suggested that the duration of sleep is around 8 hours for children aged 12 years and over. His sleep activity is not even at one time, but can be paid in installments starting from naps and there is sleep at night.

He also mentioned the use of gadgets, because it can reduce the duration of children’s rest. He conveyed this fact based on a study in Australia which showed 1.5 million teenagers lacked sleep because of watching movies on gadgets.

“Maybe children who are 12 years old and over need sleep almost the same as adults. I think 8 hours. Teenagers maybe 6.7 or 8 hours as long as they get quality sleep,” he explained.

“The rest can also be paid in installments, for example at night and then take a nap. But the quality of sleep must also be good, don’t let the children play gadgets until late at night, still playing these gadgets can be a problem,” he continued.

To note, a useful afternoon nap helps improve memory. “Napping serves to prevent forgetting things like motor skills, sensory perception, and verbal memory as well,” wrote the health page WebMD.

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