If you’re one of the lucky few parents whose children attend a school with later than usual start times, you may have noticed that it’s not only your kids who feel better—you probably do, too. There’s science behind this, and at The Insomnia and Sleep Institute of Arizona we are committed to helping you make positive sleep hygiene changes to improve your sleep. We are an outcome-driven facility led by Physician Director Dr. Ruchir P. Patel, a triple board-certified sleep specialist and president of the board of Maricopa County Medical Society. Here, patients enjoy access to unparalleled staffing levels and you see a sleep expert at your initial consultation so that testing and treatment can quickly begin.

Sleep hygiene are practices, for better or worse, that impact sleep. They can be part of cognitive behavior therapy for insomnia (CBT-I), which is overseen by our clinical psychologist. CBT and sleep hygiene can be a standalone treatment for many sleep disorders, including insomnia, or part of a comprehensive plan to help you and your child get the best sleep possible. At The Insomnia and Sleep Institute, we treat both adults and patients as young as two years old because we understand that sleep is paramount for everyone—including children.

Strange School Daze

There has been a push by many, including a leading pediatrician’s group, to start middle schools and high schools later in the morning. This would allow young people to get the “right” amount of sleep for them, which simply isn’t possible for many this age given extra-curriculars, homework, part-time jobs in some instances, and quality time with family and friends—all of which are essential for this age group. It’s clear that young people would benefit from such a change, but recent research shows that a schedule shift benefits parents, too.

Lead author Lisa Meltzer, professor of pediatrics at National Jewish Health, says, “Kids don’t live in a vacuum. They live in a complex family system. In particular, in the morning, most parents will recognize that hey are at some level involved with helping their children wake up.” This is true even of young people who are morning people. Ultimately, when kids have to wake up early, so do parents. Meltzer’s research included a large school district in Denver, Colorado, Cherry Creek Schools, and assessed exactly what kind of outcome a delayed schedule would produce.

Back to School: Sleep Issues

The schools in the Cherry Creek District delayed their start times from 50 – 70 minutes. As for the elementary school students in the district, they went to school an hour earlier (as research has shown that there aren’t the same negative impacts for early school days at this age). The parents of those in grades K – 12 filled out yearly surveys before the change, as well as for two years after the shift. This involved reporting bedtime, wake times, the quality of sleep, and level of sleepiness (if any).

According to the findings, when those in middle school and high school could sleep in a bit longer, so could parents. It seems like a relatively short bout, 20 minutes on average, but that’s 60 extra hours of sleep over the school year. Parents also reported at least seven hours of sleep per night after the schedule change, which on average is a good amount for most people (though everyone is different).

The Importance of Sleep

The benefits of sleep are well-known, as it can impact every part of your life including performance (in school or work), anxiety and depression, and much more. Of course, when parents, as well as children, are better-rested, the family dynamics improve. According to a report by the American Academy of Pediatrics in 2014, middle schools and high schools should start no earlier than 8:30 in the morning, which would allow for longer sleep for most students—and their parents.

You might not be able to change your child’s school schedule, but if anyone in your home is struggling with sleep, help is available. Schedule a consultation with a sleep specialist at The Insomnia and Sleep Institute and get the tools you need for better sleep and life. Connect today by completing the online contact form.