What is your child’s bedtime? Is it consistent? Important new research shows just how important sleep is for a child’s brain development.

The National Sleep Foundation recommends that children age 1 to 3 need 12 to 14 hours of sleep a day, while 3- to 5-year-olds typically need 11 to 13 hours, and 5- to 12-year-olds need 10 to 11 hours.

Though teaching children how and when to go to sleep can, at times, be challenging, sleep experts say it is a clear step that mothers and fathers can take to maximize their children’s ability to learn.

Read more about the role sleep plays in determining your child’s future.