The Crucial Role of Sleep in Children's Health and Development

Sleep and rest are vital to children's health and wellbeing due to their rapid growth and development in such a small period of time. This is essential to the development of a child as their behaviors, memory and social skills mature significantly during this time. Sleep studies show that if a child is sleep deprived, they may not develop and learn to their full potential and also their physical health could be compromised too. It is also needed to regulate the hormones that are responsible for growth and even appetite.

Children's Need for Rest and Sleep

A good night's sleep is essential for everyone. For children, a decent time of sleep will help them to have a more developed memory, allow them to react more quickly to situations, learn and solve problems more effectively. New research explains how sleep may help children fight obesity, avoid colds, and succeed in school. When children get the sleep they need, they may have lower risk of becoming overweight and developing diabetes as well as fewer learning problems and attention issues. Sleep allows the body to recharge from the activities of the day. Children are constantly active, whether it be physical or mental, and is one of the main reasons why children need more sleep than adults because they are learning new things all the time. Sleep studies have shown that lack of sleep can lead to a low immune system, which can be highly dangerous to children as they have a higher risk of illness and disease. If a child sleeps less than required of their age, then generally their behavior will change. They can often become irritable, moody, and more prone to tantrums.

There are several ways to make sure a child doesn't become sleep deprived, by ensuring their sleeping environment and routine are controlled. A sleep routine is vitally important to both adults and children and is often a determining factor whether someone sleeps well or not. In early years settings, it is important to find out the sleep routines and timing of individual children. Making sure a child has a routine for bedtime, it will help them relax before they go to sleep, aiding the sleep process ensuring they sleep more deeply. Common ways to relax a child before bed is removing any external distraction that might keep the brain too alert. Studies have found that families that don't have set routines often suffer from sleep deprivation, and this can lead to behavioral or learning difficulties. Another way to improve a child's sleep environment is making sure they have comfort in their sleeping environment. Make sure the room is cool and free from light helps promote sleep as the body clock naturally winds down for sleep when it is dark.

Overall, there is no set number of hours of sleep that children will require at a particular age. However, there is a general guide for the number of hours to aim for.