1. Because their schedule is very busy 

I always start my lessons by asking students how they are and “tired” is one of the most common responses. I recently asked a tired student about their weekly schedule and they reeled off a long list of sports practices, music lessons and rehearsals, and tuition sessions in addition to school and homework demands. Having a busy schedule is not uncommon for students in Hong Kong and some children thrive on it. However, all children need time built into their schedules to rest their bodies and their minds.

If your child has a busy schedule and is always tired, then you could:

• schedule in relaxation time e.g. 1 hour a day to read something they have picked, play, watch TV etc. 
• review their schedule to see if anything can be reduced or rearranged to give them more downtime.

2.         Because they are not getting enough sleep 
   

Sleep is crucial for healthy mental and physical development and multiple scientific studies have shown that well-rested children do better at school. On average, children need between 8-12 hours of sleep per night, depending on their age. Consistently missing out on even a couple of hours can leave their energy levels depleted and their brain overworked. 

Children might miss out on sleep for a range of reasons, but here are some things you can do to help them get all they need:

• help them set and keep to bedtimes that allow them 8-12 hours of rest before they need to be up in the morning.
• remove screens and homework an hour or so before bed to allow their brains time to wind down.
• check in with them about things that might be worrying them and causing them to have restless nights.

3.         Because they are mentally stressed 

It’s not just physical activity that tires us out. Spending long hours studying or focusing on other activities depletes our energy too. This is why weekends and rest days are so important for children to recover, not just to catch up on sleep but also to rest their brains. We know many of our students care deeply about their studies and may need a little encouragement to take a few hours off. Why not consider some fun family activities, like board games, a museum, or a movie? 

Constant tiredness can also be a sign of other medical conditions, so if your child complains of feeling tired all the time for more than a week or two, you should make an appointment with your doctor to check nothing else is amiss.