from University of Colorado, Boulder
Use of electronics is rapidly expanding,
especially among preschool children.
Researchers at the University of Colorado
noted that in their study of the effect of
nighttime light on preschoolers. They
found exposing children to an hour of
bright light before bedtime almost
completely shuts down their production
of sleep-promoting melatonin and keeps
it suppressed for at least fifty minutes
after lights out. The effects of light are
well-studied in adults, but this is the first
study to measure the hormonal effect on
young children. Researchers say light is
our brain clockâs primary time keeper and
young people have a heightened
sensitivity to light which may lead to
difficulty falling asleep or chronic
problems feeling sleepy at bedtime.