At Collège Champittet, we know that health and wellbeing are essential to academic success. Sleep – both quality and amount – matters. Healthy sleep plays a central role in helping students thrive. Even so, this vital need is often overlooked in busy daily routines. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, children aged 6 to 12 need 9 to 12 hours of sleep, while teenagers require 8 to 10 hours. However, research indicates that over half of middle school students and nearly 70% of high school students do not get enough sleep. Despite their best intentions, many parents don’t realize that their children need more sleep. After putting your child to bed, you may not know how long it takes for them to fall asleep, or whether they wake up during the night. A study published in Frontiers in Pediatrics tracked the sleep patterns of 102 primary school students over one week. While 83% of parents believed their children were sleeping enough, only 14% of children were meeting national sleep guidelines. Busy schedules, homework, extracurricular activities and screen time all contribute to later bedtimes. Students can be tempted to stay up late to study for an exam or finish a project, but that’s never a good idea – short-term or long-term. In our connected world, digital devices present another obstacle to getting enough sleep. Using smartphones, especially near bedtime, can delay sleep by overstimulating the brain.
Lack of sleep affects concentration, memory and academic performance. It also weakens the immune system and has serious consequences for mental health, increasing anxiety, depression and emotional stress. On the other hand, getting enough sleep is like unleashing a superpower. Findings from researchers at Fudan University and the University of Cambridge show that teenagers who sleep longer and earlier than their peers have improved brain function and perform better at cognitive tests. Healthy sleep habits can make a real difference – especially for our students. At 瑞士尚贝缇国际学校, our boarding students follow a structured “lights‑out” routine to support sleep quality. Here are some tips all families can use to support healthy sleep: Keep consistent bedtimes and wake-up times, ideally at the weekend too. Turn off screens at least one hour before bedtime. End the day with calming activities, such as reading, yoga or colouring. Sleep is a vital part of student wellbeing. Let’s all give sleep the attention it deserves – by protecting rest time, we can help students feel healthier, calmer and more prepared to learn. For more information on the benefits of sleep, see this article from Nord Anglia Education: Sleep. The Key to Helping Students Flourish.
