Monday Sleep Myth: Adult Sleep for Kids

This is the latest installment of a regular feature here at SleepBetter.org: Sleep Myth Monday, where we bust sleep myths wide open, or verify that they’re true.

Myth or Truth: Once children get to the age of 10, they need about the same amount of sleep as adults — around eight hours per night.

TRUTH

Children up to 12 still need 10 or 11 hours of sleep per night. Children 13 to 18 are still recommended to get nine hours per night. During these years, the body is still growing and needs rest.  The benefits of the right amount of sleep are multitudinous, and include better grades, better attention span, better performance in sports, and better behavior.