2. Getting the recommended amount of sleep may prove impossible.
We all know it’s important for schoolchildren to catch the recommended amount of shuteye—which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention puts at 8 to 10 hours for teens and 9 to 12 hours for preteens. But when it comes to kids in poorer households, even the minimum recommended amount might not be an option. As the American Psychological Association reports, children from low-socioeconomic families experienced poor-quality sleep in terms of “shorter duration, poor quality, greater variability, and greater incidence of clinical sleep disorders.”
Too often, students in these situations find themselves saddled with other jobs or responsibilities that detract from the time they can allot to getting enough sleep, whether they’re working an evening shift, caring for younger siblings, preparing meals, or mediating emotional disputes at home. Likewise, some teachers might find themselves juggling another part-time job on top of teaching, all in an effort to make ends meet. And for a deeper look at why kids are so exhausted these days, see why this Shocking Study Says 95 Percent of Teens Don’t Get Enough Sleep and Exercise.
