Limited Planning and Organization
Insufficient sleep has demonstrable effects on children's thinking abilities. It can temporarily weaken the brain region responsible for executive functioning, which regulates organization, planning, problem solving and self-regulation, among other things.
This can result in situations where tired children lose their school supplies and waste precious time searching. In addition, they may have difficulty prioritizing and activating themselves at an adequate pace.
Changes in Mood and Behavior
Children quickly experience mood swings and irritability when they do not get enough sleep. They may exhibit decreased self-control and may become frustrated or lose their temper more quickly. This shorter fuse can lead to abandoning homework or tests, and when interacting with peers, they may be more likely to get into conflict situations.
Reduced Focus and Attention
Research shows that sleep deprivation leads to brain waves similar to short sleep cycles, even during waking hours. This explains why tired students sometimes seem to "daydream" in class. Children who sleep too little are prone to distractions, exhibit sloppy mistakes and find it difficult to focus on schoolwork and teachers' instructions.
Effects on Memory Functions.
Lack of sleep also negatively affects memory. A brain struggling with sleep deprivation has difficulty concentrating and remembering new information. It also becomes more difficult to form and retain long-term memories.
Children who are tired work slower because it is difficult for them to remember recently heard or read information. Newly learned material may even fade by the next day.
The importance of adequate sleep for children cannot be overemphasized. Especially irritable children seem to suffer from sleep problems more often.
Therefore, it is essential to pay attention to sleep habits and needs.
