How many hours of sleep does my 4-year-old need to be properly rested?

Preschool children (ages 3 to 5) should get between 10 and 12 hours (including naps). Older ages 6 to 12 needs at least 9 hours of sleep a night. And teenagers (age 13 to 19) need at least 9 hours of sleep a night. And teenagers (age 13 to 19) need 8 ½ to 9 hours, says Carl E. Hunt, M.D., director of the National Center on sleep Disorders Research in Bethesda, Maryland. Getting an adequate amount of sleep helps kids stay healthy and achieve their best in school, while chronic lack of sleep interferes with learning, memory, mood and behavior. It also makes children more prone to accidents. Dr. Hunt’s tips: ● limit soft drinks loaded with caffeine before bed; ● keep distractions like TV’s and computers out of kid’s bedrooms; ● try to allow time for them to unwind. – Christine Brophy