Improve Your Child’s Learning by Creating a Healthy Sleep Pattern

Improve Your Child’s Learning by Creating a Healthy Sleep Pattern

As the school year starts again, parents should be reminded that poor sleep can impact their child’s learning. Summer can dramatically affect sleep schedules but it is important to get in the back-to-school routine. Sleep routines have long been considered a crucial part of a child’s ability to learn and focus in school. New studies show that poor sleep patterns can actually disturb the body’s ability to absorb new information. According to a study of more than 11,000 children in England, children will no regular bedtime or a later bedtime scored lower in reading and math than those with a regular bedtime. Reading and math are the fundamental pillars of every child’s education and development.

Dr. Shalini Paruthi, director off the Pediatric Sleep and Research Center at Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical center stated, “Sleep is closely realted to so many aspects of a child’s behavior. Children who do not get enough sleep can easily become irritable and moody…We certainly know that poor sleep can lead to poor performance in school, but it can significantly affect a child’s social life and ability to interact with others.”

Children who are grade school through adolescent age should get a recommended ten hours of sleep each night. The child’s brain remains especially active during sleep and processes what they have learned each day.

Here are some tips to creating a healthy sleep pattern with your child:

1. Create a nightly routine. Guide children to brush their teeth, put on their pajamas, and get ready for bed. Their internal clocks begin to associate this time with rest.
2. Schedule naps to be earlier in the day. Having a nap too late in the day can make it difficult for a child to fall asleep at night.
3. Limit caffeine intake. Caffeine should not be consumed past early afternoon.
4. Turn off televisions and computers. Flickering screens may prevent sleep by delaying the production of melatonin.
5. Learn the signs of a sleep disorder. Some of the symptoms include habitual snoring, excessive daytime sleepiness, trouble falling asleep, uncomfortable sensations in the legs at bedtime or during the night, night terrors, or bed-wetting.

If you have worked with your child to create a positive sleep pattern, and you are still struggling seek out FusionSleep. FusionSleep is the leader in sleep disorder diagnosis and treatment and we are ready to help you or your loved ones with sleep conditions.  Contact us today to schedule a consultation.