By Madison Thakore


Chalk board graphic that says Sleeping soundly this school year, Tips from Dr. Anju Anand

Back-to-school means back to regular sleep schedules. But it can be hard to get back on track after a long summer of late nights and mornings spent sleeping in.

Our bodies need rest, especially during busy times like the start of the school year! Sleep is important for helping with our restorative properties and cognitive abilities. Especially in toddlers and school-age children, sleep is important for overall development and performance abilities.

Dr. Anju Anand, a sleep medicine doctor and respirologist at St. Michael’s Hospital, provides three helpful tips on sleep for this back-to-school season.

Get enough of it!

There’s no magic number in terms of how much sleep kids need, Dr. Anand says. Children under the age of four require much more sleep than others, between nine and 12 hours each night. School-aged children should get approximately eight to nine hours of sleep each night to make sure they are well rested for the next day.

Establish a routine before school starts

Start preparing your children for their new sleep schedules one to two weeks before the start of the new school year. Try to have them sleep in a dark, quiet room and use an alarm clock to help with the early wake-up calls.

Find a nightly calming routine

Whether it’s meditation, a family walk or reading a book, find a routine to calm both you and the kids down before bedtime. However, avoid including technology in your nightly routine. Dr. Anand recommends shutting off the screens at least one hour before bedtime.

About St. Michael’s Hospital

St. Michael’s Hospital provides compassionate care to all who enter its doors. The hospital also provides outstanding medical education to future health care professionals in more than 29 academic disciplines. Critical care and trauma, heart disease, neurosurgery, diabetes, cancer care, care of the homeless and global health are among the Hospital’s recognized areas of expertise. Through the Keenan Research Centre and the Li Ka Shing International Healthcare Education Centre, which make up the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, research and education at St. Michael’s Hospital are recognized and make an impact around the world. Founded in 1892, the hospital is fully affiliated with the University of Toronto.

St. Michael’s Hospital with Providence Healthcare and St. Joseph’s Health Centre now operate under one corporate entity as of August 1, 2017. United, the three organizations serve patients, residents and clients across the full spectrum of care, spanning primary care, secondary community care, tertiary and quaternary care services to post-acute through rehabilitation, palliative care and long-term care, while investing in world-class research and education.