Kids are very active. They love to play all day. However, during the night, they always hate to sleep. Sleep is necessary for our body because it allows us to recharge, When we sleep, our body rests, and repair its damaged cells. Aside from this, did you know that sleep affects your child’s mental health too? What are the risks and benefits of sleep? Let’s find out.
Risks of Not Getting Enough Sleep
Risks mean the danger you and your child might experience when he or she can’t sleep well. Sleeping disorder can happen to young toddlers too. There is a documented case about a four-year-old kid who suffers insomnia.
Insomnia is the inability to sleep. Adults who suffer chronic insomnia are stress about their school, work, finances, health, and family. These things will keep the mind active at night. When you’re mind is occupied with a lot of things, you will experience difficulty in sleeping.
But how about for children’s insomnia? Insomnia for kids can increase the risk of depression, anxiety, and ADHD or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. They will also suffer behavioral problems after two to three years. You will notice that if your child is not getting enough sleep, they tend to be moody. It’s hard to discipline these type of kids who always wants to get what they want. So to avoid these health risks, you need to help them get enough rest.
Good Read: Children’s sleep, mental health are related
Benefits of Sleeping in Child’s Mental Health
Sleeping has a lot of benefits for kids and adults. It is not just about physical relaxation. Sleep is also great for our cognitive health. Especially in your kid’s mental health. Why? It is because of their brain continues to develop every single day. A healthy amount of sleep can help their neurons function well.
Their brain also needs to restore used resources during the day. Did you know that the human head can get tired too? Kids learn a lot from school and playing. So at the end of the day, their brain needs to relax. To solve this, you need to rest well. There are also areas in the human mind that are more active while we’re sleeping. These cells repair all the damage and prepare your healthy cells for the next day.
- Sleep increases creativity and concentration.
According to studies, children who get consistent good night’s sleep are more creative and can concentrate longer. Toddlers use their brain for creativity in playing with friends and participating in school activities. When the brain feels draining, encourage your kids to sleep well. Concentration is also essential to accomplish homework and tasks inside or outside the school.
- A good sleeper has better problem-solving skills.
Have you encountered a kid who talks and decides like an adult? You never know, these kids are good sleepers. When the brain gets enough rest, it can function well. These include solving problems and make positive decisions in life. Kids can sometimes think like a rational adult. Sometimes, they make sense without them trying.
- Sleep improves learning and memory.
If your child is having problems at school because of poor memory, let them sleep. A good night’s sleep can make you learn and remember new things. When you are not mentally drained, you will have more energy for the next day. You will also notice that kids who eat and sleep well are happy and can maintain a good relationship with others.
5 Tips on How to Make your Child Sleep Early
Do you need help in making your child go to bed? Well, you can follow these steps. At first, it is very challenging to shift from one routine to another. But you will get used to it. These are simple steps on how to make your kid sleep early. It is best for newborns, toddlers, and preteens.
Set an individual bedtime according to your child’s age
In general, the average recommended sleep is 8 hours. But for kids, they need more than that. You need to know the individually prescribed rest so you can create a healthy night plan. For newborns, ages 0 to 2 months, they need at least 16 to 18 hours of sleep. They can take a 3 to 4 hours nap.
If you have 2-months to 1-year old babies, you need to help them sleep for 14 to 16 hours a day. On the other hand, for toddlers to school-aged children, they need 10 to 12 hours of sleep. Now that you know all of these, you can set an individual schedule for your children.
Create a meaningful bedtime routine
Bedtime routines work best for infants. Babies are still learning about the timezone in this new world. Plus, their rest time can happen anytime during the day and night. So as a parent, you need to set-up a bedtime routine to help out.
When we have a consistent routine, our body and mind already know what comes next. For example, having a warm bath and drinking hot milk before going to sleep can relax you in an instant. Therefore, your body is ready to go to sleep. Do this to your children and train them while they’re young.
No gadgets before bedtime
You need to implement this rule strictly. Gadgets produce radiation that can delay sleep. When you’re a kid is playing their phones or watching TV, their eyes are active. The best way to do this is to turn off the TV, put away all the gadgets and dim all the lights.
Create a cozy and unstressful bedroom
How to create a cozy and unstressful bedroom for your kids? Simple. All you need is their favorite wallpaper, warm dim light, and a comfortable cotton weighted blanket. These bedroom essentials will make your child go to sleep. It will relax their brains and help improves mental health. Fear is one stress during bedtime, so eliminate all the shadows as much as possible.
Good Read: What do weighted blankets help with
Talk to your child
Yes, talking is the best. Before going to bed, talk to your child. You can ask them how their day went and they will surely appreciate it. Kids have so many stories to share. And they want to share it with you. You can read them bedtime stories. For your teens, you can share to them inspirational words to keep them going. Give some love. It always works.