Over the laast couple of days the newspapers have been full of stuff relevant to those of us with children (or grandchildren). First in the Saturday papers was an article that announced most children in Australia are sleep deprived and warned of the future problems. It squarely lays the blame on technology and the presence of that technology in childrens bedrooms. Mobile phones, computers, game consoles and more are temptations which prevent young people from doing what they should be doing - sleeping.
A man I knew put a computer screen above the cot in his daughters bedroom - perhaps a little too much! The article went on to say that all this stuff should be in the lounge or games room where everybody can enjoy and monitor it during normal recreational hours. An excellent solution which I would heavily endorse.
The other is ann excellent article on education by Tom Hawkes - well worth reading at the link below.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/ten-key-skills-schools-must-start-teaching/2008/09/08/1220725904072.html
2 comments:
http://www.smh.com.au/news/health/teenagers-robbed-of-sleep--and-results/2008/09/30/1222651083292.html
The effects of a lack of sleep are now starting to be really felt - even being linked with childhood obesity. I think we need a push for schools to start later, perhaps 9 or 10am starts? This would also help ease peak hour congestion on public transport.
How much more evidence and research is needed to get the message through?
Thx - I agreee we need to look at the processes we put our young people through and while school hours is part of that, it is only one part. OOften this problem is accentuated by work hours for parents meaning children are up early and home late so their parents can keep the 9-5 working routine plus travel; oftenn the children are involved in a number of extra-curricular and out of school activities; they often have communication tools in their rooms which ensure they get less or interrupted sleep and more.
The approach needs to be wholistic and tailored to the individual needs of children and their families, with more choices for how we do school, work and leisure.
Not easy but worth thinking about.
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