Nap Attack!
There's nothing like a comfy bed, beckoning you to nap. And that may not be such a bad thing! In a society where we often tend to be sleep-deprived, short naps are becoming one tool to help improve mood, alertness and performance while reducing mistakes and accidents. They give us a way to relax and rejuvenate.

So, as your student establishes her sleep patterns at school, jumping in bed for a brief nap could be useful.

To get the most out of napping, the National Sleep Foundation offers the following tips:

• Naps should be the right length, about 20-30 minutes, to maximize short-term alertness. This way, nappers won't get groggy or have a difficult time going to sleep that night.
  
• Naps should be in the right environment, where the temperature is comfortable, noise is limited and little light is filtering in.
  
• Naps shouldn't be too late in the day, when they could affect your nighttime sleep, or too early in the day, when your body might not be ready for more sleep.

Getting good, consistent sleep at school is important for all students, as being overtired can cause moodiness, a lack of energy, stress, anger and a higher susceptibility to illness. Plus, it can result in difficulty retaining new information and a lack of concentration, two very essential skills that will help your student succeed academically. If tossing a nap into the mix sometimes helps, it could be okay.