Kids Need Their Sleep

Kids Need Their Sleep

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By Theron Zahn

SEATTLE - The National Center on Sleep Disorders says children should get at least 9 hours of sleep a night. Researchers say sleep-deprived kids are more likely to do poorly in school.

To help kids get the sleep they need, a Seattle high school is telling its students to hit the snooze button, but not all teenagers are happy about sleeping in.

Nathan Hale Junior Sam Wildman hits the wrestling practice mat at 2:30 p.m. sharp.

Next year, practice and every other activity at Nathan Hale High School will be pushed back an hour.

"We'll be here until 6:00 p.m., 6:30 p.m., maybe even 7:00 p.m.," said Wildman.

In September, school will start at 8:45 a.m. instead of 7:45 a.m. School administrators want kids to get more sleep.

"It comes down to this," said Assistant Principal Kathryn Hutchinson. "You can learn more when you are awake."

"I think I'll feel more rested," said student Aaron Neier. "I will personally go to sleep at the same time, but I'm sure other kids will stay up an hour later."

Most students are dead against this change.

"We're going to have less opportunities to volunteer at hospitals or other opportunities that we have to get jobs after school," said student Jacklyn Portteus.

The switch will also mean fewer school buses available to take kids home. The school says most kids can catch Metro.

"The kids who rely on the school bus instead of their parents giving them a ride have to wake up at the same time as they do now or earlier to catch their Metro bus," said student Rachel Herman.

The school says most parents tell them they like the idea.

Wildman says he will have to cut the hours he works after school.

"It'll make part-time jobs really hard to handle with homework and doing an after school sports," said Wildman. "Extracurricular activities are going to be really cramped."

His wrestling teammates agree.

"You get an hour extra sleep, but in reality, you are kind of staying up an hour later doing your homework," said student Hayden Vokey.

But the school is sure the extra hour in bed will make all the difference, in the classroom.

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