The Ministry of Health advised on Apr. 17 that children should go to bed early to support the secretion of growth hormone and improve school performance. The guidance is part of recommendations aimed at ensuring healthy development and well-being among minors.
According to Dr. Oscar Espinoza Robles, a pediatric endocrinologist at the National Institute of Child Health in Breña, children’s growth begins around two or three years old due to various hormones, with growth hormone being especially important. “The growth hormone during the day has a low pulsatile secretion and it is from night onwards that its pulses begin to increase, achieving greater release while sleeping deeply,” Espinoza Robles said.
He also explained that the peak secretion of growth hormone usually occurs during deep sleep between midnight and 2:00 a.m., making it essential for children to go to bed early. “A child who is growing and developing must sleep early, not only for growth but so all their metabolic processes occur properly,” he said.
Espinoza Robles noted that lack of sleep can negatively affect children’s academic performance because reduced alertness leads to lower grades. Insufficient rest may also cause increased irritability in children since their brains have not rested adequately.
To promote healthy development, the ministry recommended reducing screen time on devices such as cell phones and tablets; limiting television viewing to one hour per day before 6:00 p.m.; encouraging physical activities; promoting reading habits; and ensuring age-appropriate hours of sleep—12–14 hours for ages 0–3 years, 10 hours for ages 3–6 years, and 8–10 hours for ages up to 14 years. The Ministry urges parents to take preventive measures for comprehensive child development and seek specialist care if sleep disorders arise.
