A large study of 2048 kids in the fourth and seventh grade found what is rather obvious! The presence of either a television or a small screen like a cellphone or tablet resulted in at least 20 minutes of lesser sleep and a higher prevalence of perceived insufficient rest or sleep.

As parents, we know how difficult it is to curb older children from using their cellphones for chatting, WhatsApp, Twitter etc. The best is of course, to have an unwritten (if it works for you, then written!) but strictly enforced rule about no electronic devices near the bed at bedtime, and this rule is applicable while they are quite young and relatively malleable.

In case your kids are already older, try explaining to them why you don’t want them to do so (usually to no avail) so get together on a group with the parents of your children’s friends so that this rule applies uniformly to all. Otherwise, your children will accuse you of tyranny and being old-fashioned and point immediately how this or that friend’s parents allow them this modern life necessity!