Sufficient sleep prepares your preschooler for school
Date :
Monday, May 24 2010
Source:
Autourina Mains
Preschoolers need to have at least 10-12 hours of sleep each day and that includes naps as well. That is right… naps! Some parents don’t want their preschoolers to nap during the day so that they can go to bed earlier at night, but truly, the value of a short midday nap is underestimated.
Sufficient sleep is a necessity for healthy growth and development. Preschoolers, who are not getting enough sleep, risk:
- Having health problems (diabetes, allergies, headaches)
- Delay in growth and development
- Compromised immune system
- Brain function that is not at its optimal level because it does not get enough time to rest, and do the necessary functions while we are sleeping.
- Have more behavior issues
- Being less alert and showing inability to process information effectively
- Being overweight
- Being more irritable and less social
Much research has been conducted on lack of sleep and its effects on children. More and more scientists are emphasizing children’s need to have adequate amount of good, healthy sleep every day. Our lives can get so busy with work, sports, and activities that we sometimes forget to allow our body to rest.
If your child is going from all day child care/preschool to sports and then to other activities, chances are you are not getting home till eight or nine o’clock at night and your child can be overtired. Letting them nap at child care is a good idea because when your child is overtired, he/she may have trouble relaxing at bedtime. Sometimes when children are too tired, they’ll become very hyper or active and their body cannot relax.
You have probably seen little ones who are very tired and rather than relaxing, they are either running, going in circles or “climbing the wall.” If I am too tired from a trip or day-long meetings, I have trouble relaxing at bedtime, and often times I am not able to get a good night’s sleep. When I am too tired and feel exhausted, I make myself take a short 15-20 minute nap so that I can relax, rejuvenate and be able to have restful night’s sleep. Keep a consistent sleep and wake schedule to help your child grow and develop properly. We always make sure our children are getting nutritious meals and plenty of water but sometimes we don’t think about the importance of sufficient sleep. Sleep is not wasted time…it is a necessary function for survival. While a sleep, the brain gets the chance to relax, problem solve, and categorize daily experiences and new gained information. Moms and dads, you too can benefit from a little afternoon siesta, so don’t feel guilty for lying down with your child, rather, enjoy a relaxing afternoon nap with your preschoolers this summer.