Wellbeing

Sleep and Device Use – Supporting Our Students' Wellbeing

As part of our ongoing work with The Resilience Project, our Year 3–6 students recently completed the Resilient Youth Survey. This provides us with valuable insights into student wellbeing and helps guide our support for them both at school and at home.

One area that stood out—though not entirely surprising—was sleep and device use at night, particularly in Year 6.

• 39% of Year 6 students reported using a device between 10pm and 6am.

• 25% of Year 5 students reported using a device between 10pm and 6am.

   

• When asked whether they get at least 8 hours of sleep most nights, only 72.25% of students said yes.

   

  • Year 3: 63%
  • Year 4: 71%
  • Year 5: 85%
  • Year 6: 62%

These numbers show a significant drop in sleep duration from Year 5 to Year 6, especially when combined with high rates of late-night device use.

We know sleep is vital for emotional regulation, focus, memory, behaviour, and learning. According to the Royal Children’s Hospital, children aged 6–13 should be getting 9 to 11 hours of sleep per night. They also strongly advise:

• No electronic devices in the bedroom overnight
• A consistent bedtime routine
• Screens turned off at least an hour before bed

As parents and educators, we can work together to build healthy habits around sleep and technology use. Encouraging a device-free bedtime and setting consistent sleep routines are small steps that can make a big difference.

If you have any questions or would like support with implementing these routines at home, please don’t hesitate to reach out.🚸