Your little one comes down the stairs to get themselves ready before school in a last-minute rush, and you notice that they are particularly quiet and lethargic this morning. Even though they claim to have slept well, your parental instinct is telling you that they are tired. And as you know, your parental instinct is rarely ever wrong!

You begin to wonder - What effect is this having on their school performance? Does this mean they aren’t learning anything? Or is it no big deal?

The truth is that sleep deprivation can have a large impact on your child’s school performance, both academically and socially. In such an important period of development, sleep plays a crucial role in ensuring the growth of your child’s cognitive abilities and mental functioning.

But there is no need to worry - we’ve compiled a list of tips to help your child flourish in school by improving their sleep quality. First, though, let’s take a look at the ways in which tiredness can affect your child’s educational experience.

How does my child's sleep quality affect their school performance?

Attention span:

As we all know, concentrating is much harder when we are feeling drowsy! If your child is sleeping poorly, then they are likely going to have a reduced ability to focus and be attentive. This can impair their school performance, since a large part of the learning process involves remaining concentrated on what the teacher is saying or the task that they are doing.

Memory:

As well as being attentive when the teacher is giving a lesson to the class, it is equally as important that your child retains the information. However, a large part of the memory-forming process occurs during sleep. So, if your child is getting insufficient sleep, they are less likely to remember the information when they wake up the next day.

Processing information:

Remember that time when someone said something to you, but you were so tired that it took you a few seconds to even process what they had said? Indeed, sleep deprivation has the effect of reducing one’s sharpness and processing speed when it comes to taking in information. What’s more, if they are then asked a question about something they have just learned, their reaction time and ability to analyse the question will be impaired if they are feeling tired.

Mood:

To maintain a calm, balanced mood throughout the day, it helps when we have had a good sleep the night before! A lack of sleep is likely to make your child more irritable, meaning that they are more prone to getting upset, and perhaps even throwing a tantrum. Not only can this affect their learning ability, but it may also cause social problems.

Nodding off:

If your child’s sleep deprivation is excessive, then it is possible that they may even fall asleep during school hours, including during lessons. We don’t need to tell you how that can affect their school performance! Getting a good and uninterrupted night’s sleep can ensure that your child will be lively and awake during school hours.

So, we’ve seen the importance of sleep quality on your child’s school performance, but how can you help your child to sleep better?

How can I help my child to sleep better?

Limit the use of electronic devices before bedtime. This will put your child in a calmer state of mind by the time their head is on their pillow.

Form a consistent bedtime routine. Having the same bedtime routine each night allows your little one to settle down more easily.

Create the right sleep environment. Each child has different sleep requirements. Experiment with different mattresses, temperatures, or lighting to find the right conditions for your child’s sleep.

Encourage daytime exercise. If your child is active during the day, then they will burn off energy, making it easier for them to sleep that night. If they aren’t the sporty type, then don’t worry - even going for a walk or to the playground can be beneficial for your child’s sleep.

If you think your child’s sleep deprivation may be due to a sleep disorder, such as insomnia, restless leg syndrome, or sleep apnea, then don’t hesitate to seek professional advice.

How does my child's sleep quality affect their school performance?

Concentration and memory are diminished by tiredness.