While staying up late to watch the FIFA World Cup can be a memorable family experience, paediatric specialists warn that disrupted sleep may have lasting effects on children’s growth and cognitive development.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup has once again sparked excitement that is hard to resist. Many families are taking the opportunity to spend time together by watching their favourite matches, even if they continue late into the night. It is not uncommon for children to stay awake alongside their parents to watch some of the world’s biggest football stars in action.
However, before allowing children to stay up late, parents should understand that a lack of sleep is about far more than feeling tired the following day. Insufficient sleep can affect a child’s concentration, mood, immune system, and ongoing growth and development.
Dr Citra Raditha, Paediatric Consultant at Mayapada Hospital Jakarta Selatan, explained, “For children, sleep is not simply a time to rest. While they are asleep, the brain remains highly active, carrying out essential processes such as strengthening connections between nerve cells, processing information gathered throughout the day, and supporting learning abilities as well as emotional regulation.”
When children do not get enough sleep, the effects often become noticeable in their daily activities. They may struggle to concentrate, become easily fatigued, and be more emotionally sensitive. Unlike adults, children require significantly more sleep because both their bodies and brains are still developing.
“Sleep requirements vary according to a child’s age. Pre-school children generally need around 10 to 14 hours of sleep each day, school-age children require approximately 9 to 11 hours, while teenagers should get between 8 and 10 hours of sleep every night. If these needs are repeatedly not met, children may experience difficulty concentrating, fatigue, mood changes, and reduced learning ability,” said Dr Citra.
Although an occasional late night may not have immediate serious consequences, repeatedly staying up late and consistently disrupting a child’s daily sleep requirements can have long-term effects on both physical health and cognitive development.
“Events such as the World Cup provide a wonderful opportunity for families to bond with their children. However, parents should ensure there is a healthy balance so that temporary changes to bedtime do not disrupt the body’s natural sleep rhythm. Maintaining a consistent sleep schedule helps children develop healthy sleeping habits,” said Dr Eddy Fadlayana, Paediatric Consultant at Mayapada Hospital Bandung.
In addition to maintaining healthy daily routines, regular monitoring of a child’s growth and development is essential to support their overall wellbeing and identify potential health concerns as early as possible.
To meet these needs, the Paediatric Center at Mayapada Hospital offers comprehensive children’s healthcare services supported by experienced paediatric specialists and subspecialists. The centre provides care for a wide range of conditions, including allergies, digestive disorders, kidney and heart conditions, infectious diseases, as well as specialised support for children with autism and dyslexia.
For medical emergencies, the Paediatric Emergency Unit is available 24 hours a day through the Emergency hotline on 150990 or via the Emergency Call feature on the MyCare application. The service is supported by a team of paediatric specialists working in collaboration with internal medicine specialists and anaesthesiologists to provide advanced care whenever required.
For residents of Bandung and the surrounding areas, Mayapada Hospital Bandung (MHBD) also operates a Growth & Development and Neurobehaviour Clinic dedicated to supporting children’s health and development. Services include occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, sensory integration therapy, paediatric physiotherapy, psychological assessments, aptitude and interest testing, school readiness assessments, parenting counselling, and family counselling. These services are designed to assess each child’s developmental needs while helping parents better understand every stage of their child’s growth and development.
For more information, please contact the Call Centre on 150770, WhatsApp 0817-17-150770, or access services through the MyCare application. The app also features Personal Health, which enables users to monitor their wellbeing by tracking heart rate, daily step count, calories burned, and Body Mass Index (BMI).