HAIFA, Israel, Jan. 22 (UPI) -- Israeli researchers found a higher rate of sleep disorders among kindergarteners who are evaluated and found not ready for first grade.
Iris Afek, Oren Lamm and Giora Pillar of the School of Education at the University of Haifa say it is widely accepted that many children suffer from sleep disorders and that sleep disorders are somehow connected to learning disabilities, concentration and behavioral problems; but most sleep disorders among children remain undiagnosed.
The researchers examined 148 kindergarteners -- 98 of the children began first grade on schedule, and 50 spent an additional year in kindergarten following the recommendation of their teachers.
"The children who were not ready for first grade had more fitful sleep at night," says Afek. "Their sleep patterns were less restful and characterized by various disturbances."
The study also evaluated the academic achievements of the first-graders and found a clear correlation between healthy sleep patterns and good grades.
