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Why We Sleep At Night
 
 
DRIVEN TO SLEEP
After a full night of sleep, you wake up ready for a new day of school, fun activities and family time. You use a lot of energy to go to school, play outside at recess, do your homework, go to piano lessons and eat dinner with your family and by the end of the day your body becomes driven to sleep. You are like a car, with your gas tank full in the morning, and empty by the end of the day. Just like your parents have to go to the gas station, you fill up your own "gas tank" while you sleep. A full tank gives you enough energy to stay busy and do your best the next day. 

NIGHT IS ALL RIGHT
Light helps you know when to sleep and when to be awake. When you open your eyes in the morning, sunlight lets your brain know it is time to wake up. As day turns to night, your brain makes a chemical called melatonin (mel-a-TONE-in) that makes you sleepy. Because light can wake you up, your room should be dark when you sleep. Even the light from a television or computer screen can make it harder to fall asleep. A dim nightlight is okay. You should have as much bright light in your room as possible in the morning to help "turn off" melatonin and wake you up!


Find out more about how sleep works...
How Sleep Works
Sleep Cycles
Learn more about how sleep works with this fun activity!
Snooze Clues
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National Sleep Foundation