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<\/a><\/u><\/h1>\nIN THE NEWS:<\/u><\/strong><\/span> Wide Awake in the Electronic Age: Our Kids' Sleep Habits Are Suffering <\/strong>Smartphones, tablets and everything in between \u2013 chances are high that if your child's over the age of 6 (and in some cases, even younger these days), they're spending a considerable (read: unhealthy) amount of time engaged with portable electronic devices. At the same time, we're finding that kids are suffering from\u00a0sleep deprivation<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0in terms of time spent asleep and quality of sleep enjoyed. Is there a connection? Yes, say researchers who reviewed various studies on the topic \u2013 and the news is even worse than you might imagine. After reviewing 20 studies, researchers found that kids who used portable electronic devices near bedtime had more difficulty falling or staying asleep, and experienced poor daytime function because of sleepiness. Device use also contributed to lack of sleep compared to non-use: less than 10 hours per night for children and less than nine hours for teens. But here's the kicker: Even kids who didn't use the devices, but had access to them, still experienced shorter sleep times. Children with bedtime access to devices close to bedtime three or more times a week also experienced less sleep and lower quality of sleep compared to children with less or no device access. Researchers speculate that access, even without use, can exert an influence on sleep because children are thinking about different aspects of the device, such as text messaging (e.g., \"Has someone responded to that message I sent earlier?\").<\/p>\n![\"Dr.](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.keefeclinic.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/14878892-illustration-of-a-kids-playing-in-nature.jpg?resize=300%2C189\")
<\/a><\/p>\nWELLNESS<\/u><\/strong>:<\/u><\/strong><\/span> Exercise: The Key to Better Grades? <\/strong>For better or worse, we live in an increasingly competitive world, which means when it comes to education, grades matter \u2013 big time. While they don't necessarily reflect the learning process, effort expended or lessons learned, grades remain an important indicator of knowledge, critical thinking and other variables that translate well into adulthood. And of course, when applying for college, few application reviewers consider the straight D student, even if that student gave 100 percent in the classroom every day. With all the tutoring clubs, online support groups and other tools at students' \/ parents' disposal these days, it's encouraging to know a simple grade-booster exists that doesn't require money or even a great deal of extra time:\u00a0exercise<\/em>. Research suggests children who exercise more perform better in several academic subjects and are more attentive compared to their less-active peers. The most recent study to examine this association reviewed 26 studies involving more than 10,000 children ages 4-13. Results, published in the peer-reviewed research journal\u00a0Pediatrics<\/em>, showed that increased physical activity, particularly physical education, improved various aspects of academic achievement , \"especially mathematics-related skills, reading, and composite scores.\" Students who exercised more also appeared to stay more focused on their schoolwork than students who exercised less. In the studies analyzed, researchers increased physical activity levels through expanded recess, afters-school sports or active breaks between lessons throughout the school day \u2013 which also may suggest academic performance is related to whether kids get breaks from their long days sitting in the classroom. Definitely food for thought for the education system. From a parent standpoint, teaching your kids to exercise and encouraging them to take active breaks at home, particularly while doing schoolwork or studying for quizzes \/ tests, could help their academic performance \u2013 and will certainly help avoid the health perils of a sedentary lifestyle. Talk to your doctor for more information.<\/p>\n
WELLNESS<\/u><\/strong>:<\/u><\/strong><\/span> Exercise: The Key to Better Grades? <\/strong>For better or worse, we live in an increasingly competitive world, which means when it comes to education, grades matter \u2013 big time. While they don't necessarily reflect the learning process, effort expended or lessons learned, grades remain an important indicator of knowledge, critical thinking and other variables that translate well into adulthood. And of course, when applying for college, few application reviewers consider the straight D student, even if that student gave 100 percent in the classroom every day. With all the tutoring clubs, online support groups and other tools at students' \/ parents' disposal these days, it's encouraging to know a simple grade-booster exists that doesn't require money or even a great deal of extra time:\u00a0exercise<\/em>. Research suggests children who exercise more perform better in several academic subjects and are more attentive compared to their less-active peers. The most recent study to examine this association reviewed 26 studies involving more than 10,000 children ages 4-13. Results, published in the peer-reviewed research journal\u00a0Pediatrics<\/em>, showed that increased physical activity, particularly physical education, improved various aspects of academic achievement , \"especially mathematics-related skills, reading, and composite scores.\" Students who exercised more also appeared to stay more focused on their schoolwork than students who exercised less. In the studies analyzed, researchers increased physical activity levels through expanded recess, afters-school sports or active breaks between lessons throughout the school day \u2013 which also may suggest academic performance is related to whether kids get breaks from their long days sitting in the classroom. Definitely food for thought for the education system. From a parent standpoint, teaching your kids to exercise and encouraging them to take active breaks at home, particularly while doing schoolwork or studying for quizzes \/ tests, could help their academic performance \u2013 and will certainly help avoid the health perils of a sedentary lifestyle. Talk to your doctor for more information.<\/p>\n![\"Dr.](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.keefeclinic.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/TABLET-IN-BED.jpg\")
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