Photo of rows of students taking naps in beds during school

Students in Handan, China, nap in foldable chairs under raised desks.

Debate photos courtesy of families; Shutterstock.com (background); HAO QY/Feature China/Future Publishing via Getty Images (classroom)

Should You Have Nap Time at School?

February 27, 2023

Do you find yourself yawning during class? Then you may be among the roughly one-third of kids in the U.S. who don’t get enough sleep.

This problem isn’t limited to the U.S. Kids in other countries don’t get enough rest either. In China, for example, it’s common for students to take a nap during the school day. To help kids rest comfortably, some schools even have desks and chairs that turn into beds!

A 2019 study found that naps helped students in China. Kids in grades 4 through 6 who took a nap at least three times a week were happier and did better in school.

But many people say school isn’t the right place to catch up on sleep. One solution would be for kids to improve their sleeping habits at night. Turning off screens an hour before bedtime and going to sleep at the same time each night could help.

Here’s what two of our readers think.

Experts recommend that kids our age get 9 to 12 hours of sleep every day. But that’s not always possible. When I have basketball practice at night, I tend to stay up later. So the next morning, I still feel sleepy. Taking a nap during the school day would help me get reenergized.

Naps could also improve kids’ moods. Taking a nap will make you feel calm and refreshed. There would be less conflict in the classroom.

It’s important for kids to get enough sleep, but napping in school isn’t the way to get it. Waking up from naps can make you feel groggy. This would make it difficult to concentrate. It’s better to get a good night’s sleep instead.

School days are packed, and nap time would leave less time for classes. Also, naps won’t prepare us for the future. When we’re older, we won’t be able to nap at work.