Did Your Child Get Enough Sleep Last Night?

     Optimum sleep is a prerequisite for optimum development. Learning occurs when your child is at complete wakefulness, which happens when she has experienced optimum sleep. Sleep is not a single steady state but is made up of REM (rapid eye movement) sleep and NREM (non rapid eye movement) sleep. The sleep of younger children has a greater proportion of deep sleep with fewer wakings than does that of older children. Dreaming occurs during REM sleep, often with good recall. Sleep ranges from deep sleep to active sleep to groggy wake time to complete wakefulness. Your child functions best when she emerges from the complete sequence.

     Children who experience a restless sleep sequence have a lingering fatigue that affects alertness. Such a child becomes inattentive, easily distracted, and unable to concentrate and may become hyperactive or disruptive. Children whose parents help them develop healthy sleep habits find they are happier, more self-confident and better learners.

     Preschoolers typically need 12 hours of sleep, school age children need 10 to 12 hours and adolescents need 8.5 to 10 hours.

     Establish a reasonable nighttime schedule. Get them to bed by using a relaxing, nurturing routine. Tomorrow's learning depends on tonight's sleep.

     If your child has difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, wets the bed or has any other sleep disturbance don't hesitate to talk with us.