CHILDREN are suffering a rise in sleeping problems caused by playing video games and texting before bedtime, a study has claimed today.
By: Dion Dassanayake
Published: Fri, December 27, 2013
Xbox and Playstation consoles along with Apple iPhones have sparked the sharp rise, according to doctors at Alder Hey children’s hospital in Liverpool.
Experts say traditional remedies like having a bath before bedtime or being read a story in bed can cure the sleeping problems.
But they also said that long working hours among parents mean that often does not happen.
Dr Richard Appleton, consultant paediatric neurologist at the hospital, said: “There are sleep problems where families put their children to bed at appropriate times but they are playing the Playstation or Xbox and are hyped-up, or they’ve had a fizzy drink so they are caffeinated.”
In the study children were given sleep diaries to look at what habits they got into before bedtime.
There are sleep problems where families put their children to bed at appropriate times but they are playing the Playstation or Xbox and are hyped-up
Dr Richard Appleton
It found that once children phased out bad sleeping habits, such as playing games before bed time, they were able to fall asleep more quickly.
Dr Appleton said that good parenting can stop children getting into bad “sleep hygiene”.
He added: “When I was a child I used to go under the sheets with a torch to read my books but now we have TV, Xboxes, Playstations and mobile phones that children are playing online with their friends.
“When parents come in from work, they’re both shattered with no time to read the child a story before bed.
“It sounds old-fashioned but it’s part of the problem. A high proportion of the population do not have proper sleep habits before going to bed.”
