Now that the school year has started, parents and teachers are once again focusing on making sure that kids arrive at school each day ready to learn. Recent research confirms that getting a good night’s sleep does affect children’s moods, behaviors, and activities.

Dr. Michelle Garrison, acting assistant professor of health services at the University of Washington’s School of Public Health and a principal investigator at the Seattle Children’s Research Institute, has been conducting studies to see what affects children’s sleep, in both positive and negative ways.  Behavior difficulties, memory problems, and academic struggles can all be tied to a lack of sleep.

Garrison will be presenting “Why Sleep Matters: From Infancy to Adolescence,” on Thursday, Sept. 26 at 6 p.m. in the Lundeen Room at the Orcas Senior Center. This program is brought to you by the Orcas Island Library with support from Friends of the Library.

There is no charge for the program. Free childcare for children (three years and older) will be provided at The Funhouse while parents attend the program.

For more information, contact Nita Couchman at the library at 376-4985.