Teacher Posts A Chart That Shows The Exact Time Kids Should Go To Bed Depending On Their Age And It Goes Viral

What time your child should already be counting sheep while in bed is the eternal question that parents face. And everyone, whether they’re a parent or not, seems to have an opinion on the topic.

Now, a chart shared by Wilson Elementary School first grade teacher Stacy Karlsen is going viral and it sparked a discussion about the importance of sleep. We all know just how vital it is (especially for a growing child!), however, parents can’t agree on whether or not the advice on the chart is sound or impractical.

The chart is simple to navigate. Simply look up how old your child is and what time they get up for school in the morning and you’ll know by what time they should already be off to Dreamland. Bored Panda reached out to Ms. Karlsen to learn more about the chart and the importance of being well-rested, so read on for our interview with her.

Wilson Elementary School is in Kenosha, Wisconsin. After the school shared the chart on Facebook, it got more than 463k shares.

Karlsen told Bored Panda that she was "absolutely flabbergasted" that the chart got so much attention both in the US and internationally. "When I posted it, I figured it would just go out to our hundred parents or so at our school. So when it went viral and the local news channel came to interview me I was in shock."

The teacher reiterated that getting enough sleep is essential and that a lack of it is a big issue. "Students are sleepy, unfocused, and lacking motivation throughout the school day when they do not get enough sleep. These provide a snowball effect, as students often miss out on the very essentials they’ll need to learn as young scholars. Often, behavior issues follow, as well."

Karlsen also gave struggling parents some friendly advice about helping their kids go to bed on time. "I’m a parent/foster parent of small children (6, 2, 1), and would strongly suggest keeping to a routine where children are in bed at a decent time," she said, recommending to look at the sleep chart. "Stick to the routine on breaks and weekends as much as possible. Children are at their very best, healthiest selves when well-rested! Sleep should take precedence as much as possible!"

"It's taken this school by storm—and more so, because barely 200 kids attend here," Karlsen told Fox 6 Milwaukee.

According to Karlsen, getting enough sleep is one way to help students be more focused and attentive during classes. Another part of the equation is a nutritious, healthy diet.

Meanwhile, school principal Yolanda Jackson-Lewis said that the amount of popularity the chart got was “crazy” and that she had to go back to her office and go to the school’s Facebook page to see for herself.

"We can tell who's well-rested and ready for their day and those who maybe didn’t get enough sleep the night before," Jackson-Lewis reiterated the importance of rest.

Karlsen said that she was “shocked” the post got this much attention and also pointed out that she didn’t make the chart up: “I found it coming across my personal page and I thought, 'Wow, this is super helpful.’”

Getting enough sleep is essential if we want to live a high-quality life. But how much sleep is enough? According to the National Sleep Foundation, this amount changes as we grow older: babies, kids, and teenagers will need more; adults will need less.

Of course, a lot also depends on each individual, so you should be asking yourself if you feel healthy, happy, and productive with the current amount of sleep you’re getting.

The National Sleep Foundation has the following recommendations for how many hours of sleep we need:

Newborn (0-3 months old): 14-17 hours
Infant (4-11 months old): 12-15 hours
Toddler (1-2 years old): 11-14 hours
Preschool (3-5 years old): 10-13 hours
School-age (6-13 years old): 9-11 hours
Teen (14-17 years old): 8-10 hours
Young Adult (18-25 years old): 7-9 hours
Adult (26-64 years old ): 7-9 hours
Older Adult (65 or more years old): 7-8 hours