Is My Child Getting enough Sleep?

How do I know if my school-age children are getting enough sleep? They always want to stay up past their bedtime. -- Sleepless
Answer: First of all, not all children need the same amount of sleep. Most studies show that children between the ages of 6 and 9 require about 10 hours of sleep. Preteens and teens need a little more than nine hours. Teens can be sleep deprived because their body clocks are telling them to stay up late, and schools often start so early. Teens attending schools with later start times get more sleep and are less sleepy during the day.
If you answer "yes" to any of the following questions, your children may not be getting enough sleep:
--Do they usually fall asleep in the car?
--Do you have to get them out of bed every morning?
--Do they seem overtired during the day?
--Are they falling asleep in class?
Not getting enough sleep can lead to poorer grades and a child's inability to do his or her best in athletics.