Parents, it's Student Sleep Health Week. The goal is to raise parents' — and students' — awareness of how important a good night's sleep is, especially during the school year. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) wants to encourage parents to do what they can to make sure kids are getting enough sleep to feel their best and succeed at school.

The new school year is the best time to establish a consistent, healthy and age-appropriate sleep routine.

“Healthy sleep is necessary for kids to regulate their mood and mental health. If your child is struggling, consider addressing sleep as a first line of defense.”

Eighty percent of the parents surveyed said their school-aged children and teens have a regular bedtime. That's good, and it's the first step to ensuring that your child gets the mental and physical benefits adequate sleep brings.

“Helping your child or teen establish a healthy relationship with sleep is essential for their success in and out of the classroom,” Rakesh Bhattacharjee, a pediatric sleep medicine physician and spokesperson for the AASM, said. “What we may not realize is that kids do a lot of growing and developing while they're asleep, so consistent and sufficient rest is key to their overall well-being.”

Parents notice when their children don't get enough sleep. Nearly 60 percent of those surveyed mentioned that too little sleep had a negative impact on their children and teens' moods. About half said being tired had a negative effect on their attitudes and behavior. Still others said they noticed a drop in physical energy and academic performance.

“Healthy sleep is necessary for kids to regulate their mood and mental health,” Bhattacharjee added. “If your child is struggling, consider addressing sleep as a first line of defense, in addition to speaking with your child's health care professional.”

The amount of sleep children need changes as they grow older. Kids between 6 and 12 years need nine to 12 hours of sleep overnight. Teens between 13 and 18 years need eight to 10 hours of sleep each night. The AASM offers a bedtime calculator to help parents plan bedtimes based on when children need to get up.

In addition, the AASM offers parents these tips to smooth the transition to the new school year:

Everyone feels better when they are rested. Ideally, kids will begin to pay attention to when they are tired and choose to get more sleep.