As parents, we’re all very aware of the health risks for our children from everyday habits like too many ‘treat’ foods, too many sugary drinks or not being active enough. But did you know that quality of sleep is also important for our children’s health?
Children need good quality sleep to help their bodies grow and develop, while for their emotional growth, sleep also gives them the ‘down time’ to make sense of their day. A lack of sleep can lead them to be hyperactive or cranky, or overly-tired when they need to be alert. We probably think our children get enough sleep but the reality is they probably don’t and children of different ages need different amounts of sleep.
What’s also concerning is that children’s sleep quality is increasingly being delayed or interrupted by the amount of screen time they’re getting – whether that’s watching TV or playing on games consoles, smartphones or tablets – too much screen time is having a negative impact on their sleep patterns and length of sleep. There’s significant evidence which now shows that children with shorter sleep duration are at increased risk of becoming overweight as they get older.
But we can change that.
Like adults, children need to have wind-down time before bed time. So aim to have a bedtime routine that works for you and your child – this can help them to get the quality sleep they need. We also need to try and reduce the amount of total screen time children get throughout the day – that means things like laptops, smartphones and tablets as well as the TV. And try to make their bedrooms screen-free zones; you can start by charging all phones, tablets etc elsewhere at night.
Like any changes to your routine, see what works best for your family. It’s also important to lead by example – if you’re attached to your phone or tablet for long periods of time, children will expect to be as well. So start by introducing any changes or new routines gradually, as they’re easier to keep up in the long run.
For more sleep tips and advice, you can visit safefood.eu or follow the hashtag #itsbedtime.
Sweet dreams.
