Ouachita Parish, La. (KNOE) - As kids return to school, local experts are stressing the importance of sleep routines.

Dr. Marlena Sullivan, a pediatrician with St. Francis Medical Center in West Monroe, says that sleep helps in many ways to prepare students for the classroom.

“So sleep is very important for our kids,” Sullivan said. “It helps with memory. It helps with improved behavior, also helps them with improving their immune system. So they still stay healthy and also for their mental health.”

Dr. Sullivan recommends parents start their kids on the routine that they will have during the school year early.

“I would definitely start a week or so before school starts because it does take your body some time to adjust to a different sleep schedule, not trying to do it over the weeken

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