I refer to the letter “Singapore’s time zone biggest contributor to sleeplessness problem” (March 18). The time zone as a cause of sleeplessness among Singaporeans is something worth reviewing.
When it was adjusted years back, the impact on school-going children was not considered. To this day, has any research been done to understand the impact of reduced sleep on our children?
Schools used to have two sessions to cope with the increased intake and thus had to start as early as 7.15am and end by 1pm for the second session to begin by 1.15 pm. But more than 90 per cent of schools today function as full-day schools, and it is possible to start classes later. Schools have this flexibility, yet only some have switched from the old timings.
In the light of studies done elsewhere, the Education and Health ministries should do a thorough one and help mitigate the negative impact of sleep deprivation. Some of the findings in the West really make one sit up and wonder. For example, insufficient sleep may stunt a child’s physical growth, make him fat and cranky and cause medical problems such as diabetes. Children who sleep less can behave somewhat hyperactively.
Studies have also found that in every age group, children with higher intelligence quotients slept longer. And sleep improvements helped children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder to improve peer relations and classroom performance.
Chronic sleep loss has cumulative effects — daytime sleepiness increases progressively. Over time, constant sleep deficits tend to have escalating and, perhaps, long-term effects on brain function.
Thus, starting school only an hour later could reap measurable, positive results and add to our children’s emotional well-being and quality of family life. It is time to gain exponential growth in happy children.
When it was adjusted years back, the impact on school-going children was not considered. To this day, has any research been done to understand the impact of reduced sleep on our children?
Schools used to have two sessions to cope with the increased intake and thus had to start as early as 7.15am and end by 1pm for the second session to begin by 1.15 pm. But more than 90 per cent of schools today function as full-day schools, and it is possible to start classes later. Schools have this flexibility, yet only some have switched from the old timings.
In the light of studies done elsewhere, the Education and Health ministries should do a thorough one and help mitigate the negative impact of sleep deprivation. Some of the findings in the West really make one sit up and wonder. For example, insufficient sleep may stunt a child’s physical growth, make him fat and cranky and cause medical problems such as diabetes. Children who sleep less can behave somewhat hyperactively.
Studies have also found that in every age group, children with higher intelligence quotients slept longer. And sleep improvements helped children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder to improve peer relations and classroom performance.
Chronic sleep loss has cumulative effects — daytime sleepiness increases progressively. Over time, constant sleep deficits tend to have escalating and, perhaps, long-term effects on brain function.
Thus, starting school only an hour later could reap measurable, positive results and add to our children’s emotional well-being and quality of family life. It is time to gain exponential growth in happy children.