Back to school in UAE: Proper sleep routine essential for children, say doctors

Back to school in UAE: Proper sleep routine essential for children, say doctors

Doctors in the UAE say getting back into healthy sleep patterns is a necessity now as most students gear up to go back to school from Monday.

They highlight it's important to have the right amount of focus and energy in the classroom, especially after a two-month break.

Dr Rouba Manachi, a specialist paediatrician with Prime Hospital, says, "It is back-to-school time, and children should be well prepared both physically and mentally. A good sleep routine is an essential step to keeping kids healthy. Sleeping early and getting nine to 12 hours of sleep each night is important for every process in the body and helps the brain store information. Proper sleep also helps their immune system to fight diseases and helps in maintaining their weight."

Medics also underline recent studies suggest that 60 per cent of middle school students do not get adequate sleep hours.

"Lack of sleep or poor sleep quality affects our children's behaviour and is associated with depression and anxiety," says Dr Manachi.

Doctors advise following soothing bedtime routines like reading or having a warm bath. They also advise against having caffeinated drinks in the late afternoon and evening and physical exercise before bedtime.

Dr Supriya Sundaram, Consultant Pulmonology and Sleep Medicine,