Al-Marsad Newspaper: Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Othman, Clinical Nutrition Consultant, revealed severe damages to the effect of staying up late on children’s health.
Al-Othman said that he reviewed many studies and found serious results that must be stopped, pointing out that staying up late affects the physical, psychological and nervous condition of the child.
He explained that the brain contains gray matter, and this gray matter in the brain is greatly affected by staying up late, stressing that there are damages when the child grows up and is in the stage of academic achievement.
He added that he has a problem when he grows up in academic achievement, controlling emotions, the ability to judge things and knowing their danger, in addition to problems of anxiety, stress and depression, indicating that among the damages are short stature, many psychological and physical diseases and deviation.
Regarding the sufficient amount of sleep for children, he explained:
1- Less than two years of age need 11 or 14 hours of sleep per day.
2- The age of two to five years, they need from 10 to 13 hours.
3- School-age children need 11 hours
4- Young adolescents following 12 years need from 8 to 10 hours.
Al-Othman advised people who face a problem with their children not sleeping, as follows:
1- Doing fitness during the day
2- Stay away from games and devices two hours before bed.
3- Reduce the lighting.
4- There are no games or devices inside the room.
5- Take a shower before bed.
6- Drinking milk is beneficial and everyone sleeps.
7- Not distinguishing between the beginning and end of the week in sticking to bedtimes, as the child’s biological clock is very accurate.
