Building Healthy Sleeping Habits for Kids

Children’s ability to perform their tasks daily depends on sleep. Children who get enough sleep can better focus on new experiences, interact constructively with others, and develop their memory and concentration abilities. 

Children’s brains are forming new connections as they sleep, making them more physically at ease and mentally attentive while they are up. Over time, these beneficial results can be seen, and as a parent, you have a crucial role to play in assisting your child in developing healthy sleeping practices.

Importance of Good Sleep for Children’s Development

Sleep is referred to as the “power source,” and it fuels the brain. Generally, sleep fosters physical development, mental clarity, and mood stabilization.

Sleep Influences Physical Health

Getting enough sleep is crucial for children’s health. Kids who get sufficient sleep are less likely to get sick, including catching common colds and flu, and are at a lower risk of developing cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Adequate sleep also improves immune function, which helps protect against viruses, regulates immune response to infections, and strengthens the body’s defence system. Moreover, sleep plays a critical role in enhancing balance, which reduces the likelihood of falls, sprains, and other types of accidents.

Research suggests a strong link between lack of sleep and obesity. Sleep deprivation may increase carbohydrate cravings and activate weight-affecting hormones.

Sleep Influence Growth

You may have heard the claim that children grow only during sleep. While it’s not entirely accurate, growth hormone is indeed produced during sleep. Therefore, not getting enough sleep can potentially hinder growth.

Growth encompasses more than just a child’s height; it also includes the growth of the bones, tissues, and organs. Children must get enough sleep to produce ample growth hormone to develop every part of their developing body properly.

Sleep Influence Mood

Every parent knows how irritable and disruptive a child can become when fatigued and sleep-deprived. What you might not know is that not getting enough sleep can lead to an instability of emotions that might result in a child who is constantly depressed, whose emotions are out of control, or who frequently loses control. 

Sleep Influences Cognitive Ability

Sleep improves cognitive function and significantly impacts how well your child can think. A sufficient amount of sleep is linked to higher IQs and can help ensure attention span, learning capacity, and memory. Improve your kids’ sleep if you want them to perform better in school.

5 Tips to Help Kids Have Good Sleep Habits Every Night

Try adopting these tips to encourage your kid to sleep soundly every night and to form healthy sleeping habits.

• Maintain a Sleep Routine

When it comes to fostering healthy sleeping habits in children, a good nighttime routine is crucial. Whatever your nightly ritual is, keep it constant so that your child remembers what to anticipate and can proceed through every routine. Examples include bathing, changing into pyjamas, cleaning the teeth, and reading a few pages.

• Keep the Room Cozy and Comfortable

Ensure the room is moderately warm, stuffy, and light for your child. The best conditions for sleeping well at night are calm, dark, and cool bedrooms.

• Limit the Use of Gadgets

At least an hour before night, prevent your child from using the computer, checking her phone, or watching TV. These activities on electronic screens can be engaging and prevent people from falling and staying asleep.

• Stop the Sneaky Caffeine

A cup of coffee before bed is something you wouldn’t refuse your preschool kid. However, you might not be aware that some foods and beverages contain caffeine, like bottled tea, chocolate, and even some non-cola sodas. When your kid requests dessert close to sleep, stick to healthy fruit and avoid meals with caffeine.

• Promote Relaxation Practices

Teach your children relaxation techniques to help them unwind before bed. These can include visualization exercises or gradual muscle relaxation techniques. Encourage them to incorporate these strategies into their bedtime routine.

Take Away

Sleep is essential for a child’s development. A lack of sleep can result in a weakened immune system, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and weight gain. So make sure to determine how much sleep your child requires and assist them in developing good sleeping habits. Ensure they maintain a regular bedtime routine, limit devices from their room and the hours before bed, and monitor their caffeine intake.