The more children spend time watching TV or playing games on the computer, their sleep patterns get worse over time while also suffering from disturbed sleep, reveals a study in the open access journal, BMC Public Health.
Teija Nuutinen, the lead author of this study, explains the effects of these habits, in saying, “Children need extra sleep as they go through puberty but our study finds that TV and computer use affect the sleep of children. This is especially true during the week and may be impacting their school work as well as their development. Media viewing habits should be considered for kids who are tired and struggling to concentrate, or who have behaviour problems caused by lack of sleep.”
But how much does this involvement with media affect children?
A study conducted over eighteen month by researchers from the Folkh Isan Research Center showed that 10-11 year olds, when using their computer and watching TV more frequently, struggled to go to bed on schooldays and got lesser sleep over the weekend.
However, there was a difference between boys and girls with the latter still going to bed earlier than boys on schooldays but most of all, made up for lost sleep over the weekend.
With that said, since the amount of sleep children get has a direct impact on their performance at school as well as their mental and physical health, this is why the study also recommends that the amount of media that children are exposed to should be limited as much as possible.
A moussaka in your own kitchen is a great way to taste some Mediterranean flavors. Alternations of soft eggplant, seasoned ground meat, and creamy béchamel characterize this richly flavored dish with hearty elements commonly found in Greek and Middle Eastern cuisine. Here is how you can prepare this timeless recipe step by step. Manakish Oven…
