Despite how persuasive all this science is, somehow it still seems like a huge leap of faith to consider giving back an hour of our children’s lives to slumber. This article explores the implications of overextending children to the point of their losing sleep.

http://nymag.com/news/features/38951/index4.html

“For fear of lawsuits, we’ve created a bubble-wrapped society...Fear of litigation has resulted in the ‘dumbing down’ of playgrounds and the closing of sledding hills and hiking trails. We’ve made playgrounds immensely safe for 3-, 4- and 5-year-olds, but they’re boring for 8-, 9- and 10-year-olds, who are on the streets with their skateboards."

"Learning outside the home begins early in life. Over a third of all U.S. children under the age of five are cared for outside of their homes by individuals not related to them.1 Research on early childhood education shows that high-quality child care experiences support the development of social and academic skills that facilitate children’s later success in school.  There is also mounting evidence that close relationships between teachers and children are an important part of creating high-quality care environments and positive child outcomes..."

Read more here...