Sleep the Easiest Thing You Can Do to Help Your Child

Sleep is Critical

We don’t give sleep the respect it deserves. It’s an essential process — just as much so as eating, breathing or exercising.

How much sleep is enough? Though every child is different, in general, it’s recommended that children (3 to 5 years) should get 11 to 13 hours; while school-aged children (first through fifth grades) should be sleeping 10 to 11 hours.

Mandy Gurney, an expert on children’s sleep, says that an increasing number of children spend their formative years “chronically sleep-deprived”. As a result they are not only tired, ratty and inattentive but are more prone to a spectrum of health problems.

The link between a child's lack of sleep and his or her behavior isn't always obvious. When adults are tired, they can either be grumpy or have low energy, but kids can become hyper, disagreeable, and have extremes in behavior.

The effects of sleep deprivation and chronic lack of sleep

 Daytime tiredness and lack of motivation  Difficulties with focused attention  Moodiness and irritability  Difficulty controlling impulsive behaviours and emotions  Reduced creativity and problem-solving skills  Difficulty in receptive and expressive language  Inability to cope with stress  Reduced immunity; frequent colds and infections

 Concentration and memory problems  Weight gain  Impaired motor skills and increased risk of accidents  Difficulty making decisions  Increased risk of diabetes, heart disease, and other health problems

Below are suggested websites with excellent information and suggestion to simplify bedtime routines.

http://kidshealth.org/parent/general/sleep/sleep.html# http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/child_health/article 6916053.ece ~ information about sleep from Mandy Gumey. http://nymag.com/news/features/38951/ Excellent article about sleep and its cognitive impact on academic abilities Posted In: Research

http://newsinfo.nd.edu/news/16431-childrens-lack-of-sleep-can-mean- trouble-grasping-new-ideas-notre-dame-research-shows/~excellent information about Notra Dame research " http://www.douglas.qc.ca/info/sleep-and-children-impact-of-lack-of-sleep- on-daily-life ~ based on Candian research

http://www.helpguide.org/life/sleeping.htm ~ an excellent articel on sleep and its effects http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/humanbody/sleep/sheep/ Is lack of sleep affecting your performance?

Lack of sleep affects your judgment, coordination, and reaction times. In fact, sleep deprivation can affect you just as much as being drunk. The BBC has a fun test to help you determine if lack of sleep is affecting your performance.