DAMMAM: Students returning to school next week will likely struggle to change their sleeping patterns from the late nights during their vacation, which could affect their performance and behavior.

A recent study has shown that children who have trouble sleeping tend to perform poorly compared to their peers who have a good night’s rest. This is because sleep helps the brain and nerve cells recuperate from activity during the day.

Sleep problems can result in behavioral problems such as anger, restlessness, physical or verbal aggression, confusion and uncontrolled reactions. Parents need to ensure that they help their children make the adjustment.

Anoud Mohammed, a social worker, said: “Some parents underestimate sleep disorders that affect their children during the first week of school. The most important physical signs that accompany this condition are lack of concentration, headaches, drowsiness and moodiness.”

She said that parents should take various measures to help their children adjust by stopping them from watching television late at night and getting them to sleep early. They should also be encouraged to join summer camps during holidays.

Hussein Al-Hakami, an assistant professor in social work, said: “During the holidays, students try to break free from the restrictions imposed during the school year by staying up all night and choosing their bedtime.”

Parents encourage this behavior unintentionally by going out to malls and markets late at night to avoid the hot weather.

To solve this problem, Al-Hakami said that each family should put in place a plan for the end of the summer vacation. This includes youngsters returning home early, getting sufficient sleep at night, not napping and cutting out the use of mobiles to chat and connect with others on social networks. This can be done in about three days to a week.

He said that eating heavy meals before bedtime could also cause sleep disorders and discomfort, resulting in children waking up and then struggling to fall asleep. It is preferable for children to go out for a walk or exercise before going to bed.

Al-Hakami said that parents should explain to their children that the human body and mind need sufficient hours of sleep to be ready for studying and understanding concepts.

Some teachers have complained that many students fall asleep at their desks when they return to school during the first week because they have not yet adjusted their sleeping patterns.