Imagine being woken up at 5:00 am while it is still dark outside. You are barely awake, yet you are dressed and put on a school bus that drives around for hours before you even reach school. By the time lessons begin, your body is already tired. Then at noon, instead of running around and playing like kids should, you are forced to sleep on a hard classroom floor. Does this sound fair?
This is the reality for many young schoolchildren today. They wake up too early, spend too much time in traffic, and are expected to focus in class even though their bodies are begging for rest. Why do we do this to them? Instead of letting them wake up naturally and start school at a reasonable time, we force them into a schedule meant for adults.
The Problem with Early School Hours
Children need sleep to grow, learn, and stay healthy. When they wake up too early, their brains do not get enough rest. Studies show that kids who do not get enough sleep struggle in school, have trouble concentrating, and may even develop health problems. If schools allowed children to start their day later, they would be more active, happier, and ready to learn.
A Simple Solution
What if schools changed their pick-up time? If kids were picked up at 8:30 am and reached school at 9:00 am, they would get enough sleep and still have time for learning. This small change could make a big difference. Well-rested children learn better, behave better, and enjoy school more.
Schools should prioritise the well-being of children over strict schedules. Let’s rethink how we treat our kids. They deserve better rest, more time to play, and a childhood that is not stolen by exhaustion. It’s time to put their needs first.
