It is important for everyone to get enough sleep. But ensuring that this happens for children is critical so that they are alert and agreeable. But getting less than your required amount of sleep can cause some significant problems. The impact of insufficient sleep is so critical that the CDC calls it a “health epidemic”. Their research shows that among adults nearly 30% average less than six hours of sleep per night. Teens – only 31% get at least eight hours per school night. Children are at risk too. The journal Pediatrics notes that insufficient sleep in children under 7 years of age can lead to some pretty life altering issues – such as weight problems – and can have general negative effects on their physical, emotional and social health.
There are ways to help increase the amount of sleep you – and your teens and children – get. It can be as simple as making sure that sleep is a priority and that the entire household understands the importance of getting enough of it. Other helpful strategies include creating routines, planning exercise for earlier in the day and keeping electronics out of the bedroom.
Making sure that your children are getting enough sleep is pretty easy. Waking up fairly happy and easily in the morning shows that your child is rested. The absence of late afternoon meltdowns is also a good indicator.
It is important to ingrain the importance of sleep early on and set the stage for your child to have good sleep habits because it can have a tremendous impact to their long term health and well-being.
Read more in the CNN article by Dr. Jennifer Shu.
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