Children with televisions in their bedrooms miss out on vital sleep

By Laura Roberts Published: 1:17PM GMT 18 Feb 2010

Experts recommend that ten year-olds get at least 10 hours of sleep a night Photo: GETTY IMAGES

Half of children aged nine to 11 are being kept awake by the devices, according to a questionnaire of 1,000 children across the UK by the BBC programme Newsround.

The majority went to bed at 9.30pm, but a quarter said bedtime was 10pm or later. Meanwhile half said they wanted more sleep and were tired because they did not get enough.

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Lewis, 10, from Liverpool, said: "I play on my games and it takes me until 10pm to go to sleep. I am tired in the morning."

Health experts have linked a lack of sleep amongst children to problems with concentration, behaviour and school work.

More than half of the children taking part said they had a television in their bedroom.

Experts recommend that 10-year-olds get at least 10 hours of sleep a night.

Of the children who filled in the questionnaire, 314 out of 1,083 said they went to bed at 9.30pm, 272 said 9pm.

A total of 277 said they stayed up until 10pm or later.

Children who don"t get enough sleep have less energy and can be irritable or behave badly.

A recent study by academics in Finland suggested a good night"s sleep could reduce hyperactivity and bad behaviour among children.

They said adequate sleep could improve behaviour in healthy children and reduce symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).