2023 Student Wellbeing Blog

Well-being / Sleep Health

17/3/2023

While we know sleep is essential for good health, research shows that many children and young people are not getting enough sleep on school nights. This can affect thinking, concentration, memory, reaction times and mood.
Research shows about 12% of primary school-aged children, a quarter of 12- to 15-year-olds and half of 16- to 17-year-olds don’t get enough sleep on school nights. The recommended amount of time to sleep for primary school-aged children is 9 to 11 hours. For teenagers, it’s 8 to 10 hours.

Signs that your child is not getting enough sleep can include:

low mood and irritability during social interactions
reluctance or arguing about getting off devices and going to bed
falling asleep during the day
difficulties waking up for school and sleeping in late on weekends to catch up
changes to communicating or interacting at home.

You can help your child to improve their sleep by:

establishing a regular sleep pattern and consistent bedtime routine
supporting them to avoid using electronic devices such as smartphones before going to bed and in bed
encouraging your child to exercise and spend time outside in daylight, steering clear of vigorous activity in the hour before sleep
encouraging them to wind down and relax before going to bed.

If your child is still having trouble sleeping, has persistent problems with low mood, excessive daytime sleepiness, restlessness in bed, severe snoring or wakening unrefreshed, despite getting adequate length sleep, they should see a doctor.

For more information on sleep health, you can refer to:

Sleep tips for children and Facts about sleep for parents and school staff, from the Sleep Health Foundation
Why sleep is so important, from the Kids Helpline’s
Sleep explained, from the Better Health Channel.

E-SAFETY ONLINE - SAFETY INFORMATION & GUIDANCE FOR PARENTS

3/3/2023

At MPPS as well as accessing the eSafety resources for school, we encourage parents/carers to access the eSafety Parents link to utilise the resources available, to help our students navigate their digital world and educate them to avoid harmful online experiences outside of school.

The eSafety website encourages parents/carers to work together with young people to understand the importance of engaging with their online activity safely such as –

setting boundaries around their usage time
knowing the apps and games being accessed
being aware of the online content and communication with others
monitoring the environment being used by the child
how to report unsafe online usage to the eSafety Commissioner

The eSafety Website provides education and tips for families with the aim of keeping children safe and supporting them to have a positive experience when online.

Helpful eSafety Links

Webinars For Parents & Carers

See the calendar of free webinars for parents and carers to learn the latest strategies for helping children stay safe online.

Online Gaming

Learn about the benefits of playing games online, as well as the potential risks that your child may face.

Time Online

Help your child achieve a healthy balance in their online and offline activities.