5 jam packed free webinars that every parent, practitioner and policy maker need to know.

What to know about sleep and safety, immunity, athletic performance, circadian rhythm, prepping for back-to-school, and aligning sleep schedules to kids’ needs. 

Nonprofit, Start School Later, Inc., partners with Sleep Number on a series of monthly webinars titled Let’s Sleep! Sleep Number’s goal is to improve the lives of 1 million youth through quality sleep by 2025.

The webinars feature sleep experts, school administrators and other professionals, alongside members of the Sleep Number Scientific Advisory Board and Sleep Number’s new sleep expert, on relevant adolescent sleep topics. Sleep Number’s Scientific Advisory Board members and sleep expert lead the monthly Sleep Number Research Spotlight segment, where they present the latest Sleep Number and industry research and data relevant to each topic. These webinars are open to school administrators, teachers, school board members, parents, teachers, health professionals and students. The full archive is available to view here. 

A complete listing of all five webinars is available below:

ADOLESCENT SLEEP AND SAFETY: WHAT EVERY PARENT, PRACTITIONER, AND POLICY MAKER NEEDS TO KNOW

Featuring Sleep Number Scientific Advisory Board Member, Dr. Judy Owens

It’s no secret that teenagers don’t always make the best decisions; it’s age appropriate. And there’s no question that parenting adolescents can be fraught with worry. No wonder. Teens are at higher risk for car crashes, substance use, suicide, depression, and impulsivity. And most are sleep-deprived. But there’s good news: Science-informed practices and policies that support sleep are proven to help teens thrive, and they literally save lives. VIEW

Key Topics: Drowsy Driving, Safety, School Start Times, Daylight Saving Time, Changing Clocks, Circadian Rhythms

IMMUNE FUNCTION, SLEEP, AND CIRCADIAN RHYTHM: UNDERSTANDING THE CRUCIAL CONNECTION

Featuring Sleep Number sleep expert, Dr. Peter Polos, MD, PhD, FCCP, FAASM, Sleep Medicine Specialist 

While we sleep, our immune system is working to protect us from illness. So what happens if we don’t get enough sleep? Multiple scientific studies reveal that disruptions to sleep and circadian rhythm weaken our immune response and make us more susceptible to disease, allergies, viruses, and even cancer. Conversely, ample and well-timed sleep boosts our immune function, reduces infection risk, and even improves antibody production after immunization. Recent advancements in our understanding of sleep and the immune system have exciting and wide-ranging applications in disease prevention, public health, medicine, and policy.  VIEW

Key Topics: immune system, vaccines, infectious disease, recovery, COVID, circadian rhythms

DREAM SEASON: SLEEP AND TEEN ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE AND RECOVERY

Featuring Sleep Number Scientific Advisory Board Member, Virend Somers, M.D., Ph.D.

Sleep affects athletic performance – including reaction time, energy level, memory, and accuracy. Sleep also plays a vital role in post-exercise recovery and reducing the risk of sports-related injuries. Athletes may need more sleep than non-athletes. Coaches and athletes who recognize the importance of sleep are using sleep to gain a winning edge. Join us for an illuminating discussion between sleep health professionals who work with school-age, collegiate, and professional athletes to foster sleep to improve sports performance, health, and quality of life. VIEW

Key Topics: athletics, morning routine, coaching, sports, training, performance, injury, recovery, adolescent circadian rhythms, school start times, parenting

ALIGNING SECONDARY SCHOOL SCHEDULES WITH ADOLESCENT SLEEP NEEDS: AN INTRODUCTION

Featuring Sleep Number Scientific Advisory Board Member, Dr. Judy Owens

Many middle and high schools start too early in the morning for the biologically driven later sleep patterns of adolescents. The resulting sleep loss harms teens’ mental and physical health, safety, and learning – and it’s a barrier to equity. That’s why the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Psychological Association, and many other major health and education groups recommend that secondary schools start at 8:30 a.m. or later, and that’s why California passed the healthy school start times law. Today, as part of their pandemic recovery plans, a growing number of school districts nationwide are following the science and allowing teens to get the sleep they need to nourish the whole child and advance learning and equity. Experts in their fields will help you get started. VIEW

Key Topics: adolescent circadian rhythms, school start times, sleep and health, school bus logistics, athletics, school policy

SLEEP DISPARITIES AND THEIR IMPACT ON SCHOOL-AGE YOUTH

Featuring Sleep Number Scientific Advisory Board Member, Virend Somers, M.D., Ph.D.

Every child needs healthy sleep, yet not every child has equal access to it. In the United States, 30-40% of adults and 40-70% of adolescents report sleep deficiencies annually. People of color and low socioeconomic status populations have the highest prevalence of sleep problems, including sleep disorders, insufficient sleep, and irregular sleep-wake patterns. School-age children are no different. The consequences of poor sleep impact academic learning and absenteeism, mental health, risky behavior, and wellbeing. Yet sleep health disparities are often not considered in the school community environment. This webinar will describe sleep health disparities in youth, the consequences of insufficient, irregular, and misaligned sleep, and why understanding the disparities is important for effective and equitable health and education interventions. VIEW

Key Topics: equity, health disparities, economic Inequality, sleep disorders, insufficient sleep in youth populations

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