Sleep Deprivation Research From NurtureShock

Book Club Discussion Starters About Sleep Loss and Child Development

Sep 20, 2009

Book club discussion questions help parents understand Bronson & Merryman's shocking data about sleep deprivation and child development from NurtureShock's 2nd chapter.

Book clubs use the power of social networks, to process and understand important information in reading materials. The research findings in NurtureShock are significant child development concepts. Chapter 2 in NurtureShock focuses on sleep deprivation and its effects on children. When parents have opportunities to discuss the ideas about sleep and sleep loss with others, real life applications are easier to find. The book group discussion starters for NurtureShock’s second chapter on sleep deprivation help get the conversation and the learning started.

Effects of Sleep Loss

1. Bronson and Merryman’s research review show that thirty years ago, children got more sleep, averaging about one more hour per night. Studies conclude that sleep deprivation results in decreased intellectual functioning, emotional issues, hyperactivity and obesity. Reflect on those statements. What things might compete with sleep? What is compelling about the effects of sleep deprivation evidence and what remains questionable?

Behavior and Sleep Deprivation

2. Bronson and Merryman’s research review suggests that behaviors that have been classified as typical teenage angst may actually be symptoms of chronic sleep loss. If this finding is accurate, how does that change the view of typical teenage behavior?

Grades and Sleep

3. Two research studies of high school students’ sleep patterns and grades showed that A students averaged 15 more minutes sleep than B students and so on. Researchers concluded that every 15 minutes of sleep is important. How could this information be used in real life?

Executive Functions of the Brain

4. Sleep loss negatively affects many parts of the brain. One part of the brain, the prefrontal cortex, suffers most from sleep deprivation. This part of the brain is responsible for executive functions which are high-level operations that control other brain operations. Executive functions allow people to fight off instant gratification desires and predict consequences of actions. So, sleep deprivation compromises impulse control. Does this observation ring true? What are parenting implications?

Memory and Sleep

5. Sleep allows the brain to move what it has learned and stored in short-term memory to better long-term storage areas. To hold vocabulary words, multiplication facts and history timelines in the brain, sleep is essential. Think about times when children have been sleep deprived and were trying to study. Does that experience match the research cited in NurtureShock?

Later Start Times for Secondary Schools

6. Dr. Mark Mahowald of the Minnesota Regional Sleep Disorders Center is familiar with the debates surrounding later start times for secondary schools. Reasons argued for not changing start times include sports schedules, athletes leaving school early for away games, increased transportation costs, teacher commuting ease, and elementary students at dark bus stops during winter. Dr. Mahowald says that he has never heard the argument that “children learn more at 7:15 a.m. than at 8:30.” Schools seem to be scheduled around adult needs and finance rather than for optimum learning. What thoughts come to mind when considering Dr. Mahawald’s observations?

Media and Obesity

6. “There was no statistical correlation between obesity and media use, period.” Dr. Elizabeth Vandewater’s definitive statement derived from a study of 8,000 families followed runs counter to popular belief. Is the evidence provided by Bronson and Merryman convincing?

Culture and Sleep

7. Bronson and Merryman suggest that American culture rewards those who sleep less. Admit to taking a nap during the day and prepare to be seen as weak. What are some thoughts about the authors’ hypothesis?

8. How did the research and ideas about sleep deprivation broaden or change perspectives about parenting and child development?

A NurtureShock book club or book group is a powerful way to ponder the important parenting and child development topics presented in the book’s second chapter focused on sleep loss.

The first chapter in NurtureShock is another natural book club selection. The authors share research on praise and how the wrong kind of praise impedes child development.

The copyright of the article Sleep Deprivation Research From NurtureShock in Parenting Books is owned by Lynn Brogan. Permission to republish Sleep Deprivation Research From NurtureShock in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.