Added by: Shropshire Mums on Fri Aug 30 21:01 2019
Aug 15, 2019
Help your child sleep for success! That’s the message from The Sleep Council as parents prepare for the new school year.
With sleep deprivation known to affect everything from a child’s attention span to their planning and problem-solving skills and behavior, re-establishing a good sleep routine is vital in the back to school countdown.
Says Lisa Artis of The Sleep Council and a certified children’s sleep practitioner: “Sleep deprivation affects every aspect of a child’s life, from friends and family relationships to school performance and their general mood. So, by ensuring they get plenty of good quality and quantity of sleep each night, parents can really help their child fulfil their potential.
“Children form their memories best during sleep – those who sleep well at night will remember the previous day’s lessons better than children who don’t get enough sleep.
“Young children need a good solid block of sleep each night if they are to perform well at school. For example, a five-year-old needs about 12 hours per night, a 10-year-old needs about 10 hours per night, and by the time children are in their teenage years, they need nine hours per night.
“As the school holidays draw to a close, sleep routines have gone to pot for many, with weeks of late nights, lie-ins and special days out. In order to re-adjust sleep patterns in time for school, we recommend a steady transitional routine – start by backing up the time kids hit the sack by about 10 minutes every day in the week before they go back.
“Don’t wait until a couple of days before your child starts back at school or you may find you have a battle on your hands. Give it at least a week to prepare, ensuring they get back to their usual bed and wake-up times. Then, with a good sleep routine back in place, they should be mentally and physically ready to tackle the new school year.”
Here are The Sleep Council’s top tips to help your child get back into a routine ready for school:
