Hospital in Chicago and associate professor at Northwestern University. “It is performing a biological function that is required.” Although studies have been unable to establish precisely how much sleep school-age children and teenagers need, the National Sleep Foundation recommends: • 3 to 5 year olds need 11 to 13 hours of sleep each night • 5 to 10 year olds need 10 to 11 hours a night • 10 to 17 year olds need 8.5 to 9.5 hours a night Students diagnosed with ADHD can have more difficulty falling asleep. These children can easily become sleep depraved making learning even more difficult. Even though they require less sleep, teenagers have a particularly tough time when it comes to getting adequate rest. Trying to juggle after school programs, part-time jobs, homework assignments and the all-important social activities, all make sleep time a low priority for the majority of high school students. Early school start times – the majority of high schools start at 7 a.m. – only exacerbate the problem. If you receive reports that your child is falling asleep in class or their grades begin to deteriorate, this could be a red flag that your child is not getting enough sleep. As the school year gets underway, parents need to evaluate their child’s sleeping habits and structure evening activities so that kids can get the sleep they need. This is, of course, easier said than done…especially if you are dealing with teenagers. Here are a few ways you can create a good sleeping environment and establish a bedtime schedule that will help your child get the rest they need to succeed at school. • Try to finish eating several hours before bedtime and avoid caffeine-containing drinks and chocolate. • After the homework is out of the way, allow your child some downtime to relax. • A warm bath an hour before bedtime may help calm some children, but for others it can be stimulating. For those children, a bath or shower before school may help wake them up and imp