Children's Restless Nights are damaging their Health
There has been much in the press regarding children's sleep issues
and the effects it can have on later life.
When you get past the early years, where kids share your room; you would
hope that once they move into their own domain, they are able to control
their sleeping routine. However, this is not normally the case.
I often hear stories about children having restless nights, which in turn
then affect the parents sleeping patterns - not great when you work full
time. Of course, parents cannot be expected to have their children sleep in
the same room as them forever - so how can you help them drift off soundly
without being there? And equally, why is it so important that they get a
good night sleep?
Research publicised by the Daily Mail suggests that bad sleep patterns as a
child can lead to issues that develop in our teens and later adult life.
Meaning that the issues that we read about so often at present, for example,
teen drug and alcohol abuse can stem from bad sleep patterns at young ages.
Who wants to hear that their child has been involved in such an incident? As
parents - don't we just want our kids to be happy and healthy?
I can appreciate that there is lots to distract children - the rise of the
internet, the over use of mobile phones (and early use!), flashy TV shows
and exhausting hobbies all play their part. But as adults, we have to
appreciate that the world is bound to develop around us and so, we need to
actively help manage our children's sleeping routines, no matter the
external factors that exist at the present time.
Some adults do not fear about their children having late nights and
encourage them to stay up with them. Some adults have the attitude that kids
are young and can handle the lack of sleep, because (and I quote a parent
attending one of our relaxation workshops) the kids are 'full of life and
young enough to - if I can handle it and I am 423, they can!' But whilst our
brains are still developing until the age of 21 - the loss of sleep affects
children and not adults and therefore, this statement made by one of our
parents is a very damaging assumption to make.
After explaining the dangers and risks, needless to say, this parent had a rethink how they manage their
household.
There are several ways to help manage your child's sleeping structure that
can be incorporated into any home.
Don't let them worry: Did you know that the recent recession has lead to 1
in 5 kids being diagnosed with mental health issues (The Telegraph 2009).
Kids feel your stress and have their own problems with school and peer
pressures. You can set an example by using a diary to rid yourself of
negative thoughts and they may do the same - meaning their head is clear
before they sleep. Or why not give them a 'worry jar' to keep all their bad
thoughts in - it offers the same solution.
Stick to times: Even in the holidays - try not to let their sleeping pattern
deviate from their regular routine by more than an hour at weekends and in
the holidays. This should help discipline their bodies and train their
brains to be active at peak times and relaxed while they sleep - in contrast
to no consistency when they have broken sleeping patterns.
Foods: Did you know that snacks such as Marmite on toast and Oat Biscuits
contain Tryptophan - an amino acid which is set to aid sleep. So when hunger
strikes late at night, opt for these savoury choices instead of giving your
child sugar full treats which will give them energy!
Lighting: There are lots of ways to make your child's room more relaxing all
with a few flicks of switches! If you are feeling fancy, get dimmer switches
fitted or for a cheaper alternative, you can now purchase alarm clocks that
light up the whole room on a timer, so your child can feel like they are
waking up to a spring morning - even in the middle of winter when it is grey
outside.
Environment: Turn the TV down and keep calm music for after a certain time
so that the whole atmosphere of your house is relaxed. You could even create
a relaxation space in your home - perhaps make a corner of a room a
dedicated space for chilling out. Put down some comfy cushions and throws
and make a rule that you can only chill out in that space if you are in your
pyjamas and will be calm and serene.
Relaxation time: Make sure that your kids wind down before bed - exercise
too close to sleep time will only encourage them to stay up longer. There
are many exercises that you can try to help your children relax in the lead
up to sleep time.
Written by Marneta Viegas on 19 January 2012 17:35:59 - blog number: 267 - http://www.relaxkids.com/tips/uploads/child-asleep-in-bed.jpg - read 195 times