Should You Be Allowed to Nap at School?

    Noah doesn’t remember his eyes closing. He doesn’t remember his head hitting his desk either. But he does remember waking up to his classmates laughing—and an angry look from his teacher.

    Why did Noah, 14, fall asleep in class? Like all teenagers, he needs 8 to 10 hours of sleep each night. He usually gets five or six.

    Some schools are worried about sleepy students like Noah. So they’re making it easier for students to snooze at school.

    In New Mexico, several high schools have added nap pods that look like tiny spaceships. At these schools, kids can ask to leave class and go rest for 20 minutes.

    Should your school let you take naps too?

    Noah doesn’t remember closing his eyes. He doesn’t remember his head hitting the desk. But he does remember waking up. His classmates were laughing. And his teacher looked angry.

    Why did Noah fall asleep in class? Like all teens, he needs 8 to 10 hours of sleep a night. Most nights, he gets five or six.

    Some schools are worried about sleepy students like Noah. So they’re letting students nap at school.

    Some high schools in New Mexico have nap pods. They look like tiny spaceships. At these schools, kids can leave class and rest for 20 minutes.

    Should your school do this too?

    Noah doesn’t remember his eyes closing or his head hitting his desk. But he does remember waking up to laughter from his classmates—and an angry look from his teacher.

    Why did Noah, 14, fall asleep in class? Like all teenagers, Noah needs 8 to 10 hours of sleep each night. However, he usually gets far less—only five or six hours.

    Because they’re worried about drowsy students like Noah, some schools are making it easier for students to snooze at school.

    In New Mexico, several high schools have added nap pods that resemble tiny spaceships. At these schools, kids can make a request to leave class and go rest for 20 minutes.

    Should your school allow you to take naps too?

    Doctors agree that sleep is important for your health. It helps your body grow. It also keeps you feeling happy and calm.

    But getting enough sleep can feel impossible.School starts early. Activities and homework keep you up late. With such a busy schedule, how can you fit in nine hours of rest?

    That’s where napping during the day comes in. Naps can’t replace a good night’s sleep—but they sure can help.

    Experts say that even 20 minutes of sleep can improve your mood. A quick nap can make you less likely to stress about a test or get mad at a friend.

    Plus, research shows that napping can help people learn. After a nap, your brain is more alert. Your memory works better too.

    Just ask Vera, 15. She’s a student at Las Cruces High School in New Mexico. Like Noah, she has fallen asleep in class. But her teachers don’t get angry.

    Instead, they send Vera to use the school’s nap pod. After a 20-minute rest, she feels calm and focused. “It renews me for the rest of the day,” Vera says.

    Doctors say that sleep is important. It helps your body grow. And it keeps you happy and calm.

    Getting enough sleep can feel impossible. School starts early. Activities and homework keep you up late. How can you fit in nine hours of sleep?

    That’s where naps come in. They can’t replace a good night’s sleep. But they
can help.

    Experts say that even 20 minutes of sleep can help your mood. A quick nap can make you less likely to get stressed or mad.

    Plus, research shows that napping can help people learn. Your brain is more alert after a nap. Your memory works better too.

    Vera is a student in New Mexico. Like Noah, she has fallen asleep in class. But her teachers don’t get mad.

    Instead, they send Vera to use the school’s nap pod. She feels better after resting. “It renews me for the rest of the day,” she says.

    Doctors are in agreement about the importance of sleep for your health and well-being: Sleep helps your body grow, and it keeps you feeling happy and calm.

    But getting enough sleep can feel impossible. After all, school starts early, and activities and homework keep you up late. With such a busy schedule, how can you fit in nine hours of rest?

    That’s where napping during the day comes in. Although naps can’t replace a good night’s sleep, they can certainly help.

    According to experts, even 20 minutes of sleep can improve your mood. For example, a brief nap can make you less likely to stress about a test or get annoyed at a friend.

    In addition, research indicates that napping can help with learning. After a nap, your brain is more alert, and your memory works better too.

    Just ask Vera, 15, a student at Las Cruces High School in New Mexico. Like Noah, she has fallen asleep in class—but her teachers don’t get angry.

    Instead, they send Vera to use the school’s nap pod. After a 20-minute rest, she feels calm and focused. “It renews me for the rest of the day,” Vera says.