HEALTH & WELLNESS
S P E C I AL S E C T I O N
• Keep electronics out or off. Electronics produce a blue
light that sends a signal to your brain to stop the release of
melatonin, making it harder to fall asleep. On top of wanting
to text with friends or check social media, children and
teens will give any excuse to stay awake. Electronic devices
are best left in the dark at bedtime.
SLEEP YOUR WAY TO A HEALTHIER YOU
By now, you’ve most likely heard the news on the numerous
benefits of sleep on overall health. From improving brain
function to assisting in weight loss, getting the recommended
hours of sleep fit for your age is essential to staying healthy. The
message is loud and clear to adults, who still fight sleep to watch
late-night television or finish one more chapter of a good book.
You may let children do the same, stay up to finish homework or
to play a little while longer. You may think you are making your
children happy with the extra time awake, but the effects are
ultimately hurting their ability to fully function during the day.
The National Sleep Foundation recommends that children
between the ages of 6 and 10 get 10-11 hours of sleep per night,
while 11 to 17-year-olds should get 8.5 to 9.5 hours. A poll done
by the foundation last year found that children were falling short
and losing out on the benefits of a good night’s sleep. Research
shows that less sleep leads to lear