OtterKnow Kids EncyclopediaWe need sleep because it is the only way our bodies can rest and recharge! Just like a toy car needs new batteries to run fast, you need sleep to play and learn. Without enough sleep, your body and brain cannot work their best.
When you sleep, your body repairs muscles, grows bones, and fights off germs. Your brain uses sleep time to organize all the things you learned during the day. Without sleep, your brain gets foggy, your muscles feel weak, and you can get grumpy.
Sleep also helps your body heal if you have a cold or a scraped knee. When you sleep enough, you wake up feeling good and ready to learn new things. Every part of your body works better after a good night’s rest!
- Humans spend about one third of their entire lives sleeping!
- Some animals, like dolphins, sleep with only half their brain at a time so they can keep swimming.
- The longest anyone has ever stayed awake is about 11 days, and they felt terrible the whole time!
