{"id":69110,"date":"2023-07-26T00:25:23","date_gmt":"2023-07-26T04:25:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/world.edu\/?p=69110"},"modified":"2023-07-26T00:25:23","modified_gmt":"2023-07-26T04:25:23","slug":"helping-children-sleep-better-a-family-affair","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/world.edu\/helping-children-sleep-better-a-family-affair\/","title":{"rendered":"Helping children sleep better, a family affair!"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/span><\/p>\n

Everyone knows that sleep is\u00a0<\/span>essential for children’s growth<\/span><\/a>\u00a0as well as their mental and physical health.\u00a0Good sleeping habits help children\u00a0<\/span>consolidate their memory<\/span><\/a>\u00a0and learn better.\u00a0Lack\u00a0<\/span>of sleep<\/span><\/a>\u00a0contributes to childhood depression, anxiety, and even suicide risk, as well as physical problems like risk of injury.\u00a0The challenge is therefore to ensure that children can benefit from these precious moments of rest.<\/span><\/p>\n

When it comes to children, quality sleep depends on\u00a0<\/span>three main components<\/span><\/a>\u00a0.\u00a0First of all, they have to sleep a sufficient total number of hours \u2013 the first criterion is therefore the duration of sleep.\u00a0The quality of that sleep is also important \u2013 sleeping soundly, with little disruption or waking during the night, is important.\u00a0Finally, it is necessary to take into account\u00a0<\/span>sleep schedules<\/span><\/a>\u00a0\u2013 the main thing being to favor consistency, with a time of going to bed and a time of getting up more or less identical throughout the week.<\/span><\/p>\n

Even if we know the importance of good sleep, it is easy to lose sight of these issues of duration, schedules and regularity.\u00a0This can come from exceptional circumstances, such as holidays.\u00a0It can also be due to mundane reasons, such as disagreements between parents and children, busy schedules or the relaxation of older children during weekends.\u00a0But there are ways for families to take matters into their own hands.<\/span><\/p>\n

As a\u00a0<\/span>child development researcher<\/span><\/a>\u00a0and family therapist, I study parental and family behaviors that\u00a0<\/span>create healthy environments for children’s sleep patterns<\/span><\/a>\u00a0.\u00a0In particular, I help parents to set up consistent and stimulating routines.\u00a0Sleep patterns set in very early, and parents play an important role in shaping children’s outlook and attitudes.\u00a0Here are the main tips I give to families, regardless of the age of their children.<\/span><\/p>\n

Set family rules<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Children learn by observing.\u00a0They are very attentive to the\u00a0<\/span>rules of the group<\/span><\/a>\u00a0, whether they are expressed or remain tacit.<\/span><\/p>\n

For everyone in the family to get a good night’s sleep,\u00a0<\/span>sleep quality<\/span><\/a>\u00a0should not be a concern confined to children, while adults \u2013 who are the ones with the freedom and power \u2013 would allow themselves to joke about their own bad habits.\u00a0If sleep is perceived as a punishment, rather than a gift for health, children will tend to have resistant attitudes.<\/span><\/p>\n

Adults should make sleep a priority for everyone in the family.\u00a0Lead by example.\u00a0If you’ve gotten into the habit of watching TV until the early hours of the morning, try to get rid of it.\u00a0Speak positively about sleep.\u00a0Pay attention to what you say and the messages you communicate through your own habits, thus reinforcing the idea that it is important for the whole family to sleep and to be energized for the next day.\u00a0Don’t make the mistake of viewing bedtime as an opportunity for adults to distinguish themselves from children.<\/span><\/p>\n

Know your child’s needs<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Remember that each child is unique.\u00a0So don’t expect sleep advice to be universal.\u00a0A child’s temperament\u00a0<\/span>plays an important role<\/span><\/a>\u00a0in the length, quality and frequency of sleep they need.\u00a0For example, a more spirited child may need time to adjust to a schedule.\u00a0These questions of temperament vary little over time.<\/span><\/p>\n

A parent’s job is to encourage routines and set necessary boundaries, while being sensitive to individual needs.<\/span><\/p>\n

When you’re exhausted and have to struggle with a child’s bad behavior, it can be hard to stay positive.\u00a0I advise you to think about this relationship and its investment on the scale of the day, noting what is going well at different times and remembering that child development is a marathon, not a sprint.\u00a0Regressions or other sleep difficulties, such as\u00a0<\/span>waking up in the night or changing sleep patterns<\/span><\/a>\u00a0, are opportunities to set things right and move forward, not punishments.<\/span><\/p>\n

Once these basics are laid, it becomes easier to take a step back from everyday life and maintain an optimistic approach in times of stress.\u00a0Remember that change happens over time more than in spot checks.\u00a0After all, strained parent-child relationships can fuel\u00a0<\/span>sleep and behavior problems in young children<\/span><\/a>\u00a0.<\/span><\/p>\n

Know how to stay flexible<\/strong><\/h4>\n

In my practice, I find that parents make two common\u2014but opposing\u2014mistakes when it comes to sleep.<\/span><\/p>\n

First of all, there are many who completely abandon rules and limits.\u00a0This is often linked to the child’s temperament or age phenomena.\u00a0For example, the peak of behavioral aggression that\u00a0<\/span>can occur in toddlers<\/span><\/a>\u00a0or the shift in sleep schedules that\u00a0<\/span>occurs in adolescence<\/span><\/a>\u00a0can lead some parents to disengage from these issues.<\/span><\/p>\n

Other parents become rigid.\u00a0They view sleep conflicts as a power struggle that the adult must win.<\/span><\/p>\n

I believe that balance is essential.\u00a0Parents need to adopt an approach that is consistent with the values \u200b\u200bthey have always stood for when it comes to sleep.\u00a0But they also need to remain flexible to help children tailor routines to their own needs.<\/span><\/p>\n

For example, all children, regardless of age, should have a\u00a0<\/span>regular bedtime and wake-up time<\/span><\/a>\u00a0.\u00a0However, parents can talk with older children about the appropriateness of these times or, based on feedback from younger children, make reasonable compromises to accommodate\u00a0<\/span>each child’s needs<\/span><\/a>\u00a0.\u00a0In any case, the message that sleep is important should remain the guideline.<\/span><\/p>\n

Do not neglect external problems that influence sleep<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Research shows that some everyday issues can affect children’s sleep quality, such as\u00a0<\/span>exposure to passive smoking<\/span><\/a>\u00a0,\u00a0<\/span>exposure to blue light from screens,<\/span><\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>the existence of conflict in the home<\/span><\/a>\u00a0.\u00a0These factors are to be taken into account when we want to help children have better nights.<\/span><\/p>\n

Good sleep hygiene is a family affair.\u00a0It’s never too late to change habits in the right direction and encourage everyone to take the rest they need.\u00a0Your child’s sleep habits can be an essential part of their lifelong well-being.<\/span><\/p>\n

Author Bio:<\/strong> Erika Bocknek is Associate Professor of Educational Psychology at Wayne State University<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Everyone knows that sleep is\u00a0essential for children’s growth\u00a0as well as their mental and physical health.\u00a0Good sleeping habits help children\u00a0consolidate their memory\u00a0and learn better.\u00a0Lack\u00a0of sleep\u00a0contributes to childhood depression, anxiety, and even suicide risk, as well as physical problems like risk of injury.\u00a0The challenge is therefore to ensure that children can benefit from these precious moments of […]\n… learn more→<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":33,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[109017],"tags":[357613],"coauthors":[11733],"class_list":["post-69110","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-health-care","tag-sleeping"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nHelping children sleep better, a family affair! - World leading higher education information and services<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/world.edu\/helping-children-sleep-better-a-family-affair\/\" class=\"yoast-seo-meta-tag\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" class=\"yoast-seo-meta-tag\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" class=\"yoast-seo-meta-tag\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Helping children sleep better, a family affair! - World leading higher education information and services\" class=\"yoast-seo-meta-tag\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Everyone knows that sleep is\u00a0essential for children’s growth\u00a0as well as their mental and physical health.\u00a0Good sleeping habits help children\u00a0consolidate their memory\u00a0and learn better.\u00a0Lack\u00a0of sleep\u00a0contributes to childhood depression, anxiety, and even suicide risk, as well as physical problems like risk of injury.\u00a0The challenge is therefore to ensure that children can benefit from these precious moments of […]\" class=\"yoast-seo-meta-tag\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/world.edu\/helping-children-sleep-better-a-family-affair\/\" class=\"yoast-seo-meta-tag\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"World leading higher education information and services\" class=\"yoast-seo-meta-tag\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2023-07-26T04:25:23+00:00\" class=\"yoast-seo-meta-tag\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/world.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/sleep-the-hows-and-whys.jpeg\" class=\"yoast-seo-meta-tag\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Kevin\" class=\"yoast-seo-meta-tag\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" class=\"yoast-seo-meta-tag\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Kevin\" class=\"yoast-seo-meta-tag\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" class=\"yoast-seo-meta-tag\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" class=\"yoast-seo-meta-tag\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/world.edu\\\/helping-children-sleep-better-a-family-affair\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/world.edu\\\/helping-children-sleep-better-a-family-affair\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Kevin\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/world.edu\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/42c1c1d5ff7ffbdf0bd50ed94c6ae6ee\"},\"headline\":\"Helping children sleep better, a family affair!\",\"datePublished\":\"2023-07-26T04:25:23+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/world.edu\\\/helping-children-sleep-better-a-family-affair\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":991,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/world.edu\\\/helping-children-sleep-better-a-family-affair\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/world.edu\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2023\\\/07\\\/sleep-the-hows-and-whys.jpeg\",\"keywords\":[\"sleeping\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Health Care\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/world.edu\\\/helping-children-sleep-better-a-family-affair\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/world.edu\\\/helping-children-sleep-better-a-family-affair\\\/\",\"name\":\"Helping children sleep better, a family affair! 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