Prevent Sleep Deprivation Among Children
I'm absolutely and confidently sure that you already know that sleep is very important for the body. The myriad benefits of sleep aren't anymore new to you I suppose. Having a complete sleep daily not only gives you energy for your day ahead; its effects also accumulate resulting to a better overall health and wellness. For adults, 8 hours is the recommended amount to recharge the body fully and prevent fatigue and the occurrence of a number of diseases. Children, on the other hand, specifically preschoolers, age 3 to 6 years old, need 10 to 12 hours of sleep per day to ensure optimal growth and development. However, in the case of children, their sleep may be hindered by various sleeping issues that may compromise the quality and quantity of their sleep. Sleep deprivation must be avoided in their young age. Find out what are the different sleeping issues and their corresponding cures by reading the rest of this article.
1. Sleepwalking. This condition, medically somnambulism, is a sleep disorder belonging to the parasomnia family. In this state, sleepwalkers arise from their slow wave sleep stage with low consciousness and perform activities that are usually done during a state of full consciousness. This act is potentially dangerous because they may be at risk of falls and hurting themselves. If your child is a sleepwalker, make sure to close the door of his/her room to prevent accidents, such as falling from the stairs. Also, keep away sharp objects or any other dangerous materials from his/her reach.
2. Frequent waking. According to Edward Kulich, MD, paediatrician, sleep consultant, and author of the €The Best Baby Sleep Book€, €Frequent waking can be a developmental phase or a sight of stress, either at home or at school.€ This might take a toll on your child's growth and developmental milestones. Talk to your child to figure out if there is something bothering him/her. Also examine your home for stressors that may affect your child's sleep.
3. Nightmares. Most kids experience these scary dreams that usually start around preschool age. The reasons and origin of these bad dreams are actually unknown, but there are actually ways in preventing them or at least calming your child whenever these happen. Cuddle your child when these occur; reassure them that it's all just but a dream. It will also help if you eliminate factors in your child's environment that contributes to his/her nightmares, such as the scary photo that flashes on your latest gadget.
4. Anxiety. Children, the same as adults, experience things or events that worry them. Anxiety may not manifest in your children during the day due to the distraction and activities they take. But, this starts to bother them at night when things start to settle down. They may experience restlessness and inability to relax, which may affect their sleep. If in any case you see your child suffering from anxiety, talk to him/her. Give them a chance to talk about their worries during the day. When conversing, be transparent as an LCD screen protector, so that they will get the feeling that there is no reason to hide things from you.
5. Bedwetting. This condition, medically known as enuresis, is very stressful for children. It can tremendously affect your child's self-esteem. Having no control over their bladder causes them to feel self-doubt, recriminations, and shame. They tend to regress, which is often a result of a stressful event that affects their psychological state and development. When dealing with them, stay positive. Encourage progress in preventing this sleep issue, and acknowledge that setbacks occur. Praise your child for his/her progress, and maintain a non judgmental attitude by not embarrassing them for failing to keep themselves dry at night.
The sleep issues mentioned above might just seem like problems not needing immediate attention, but be wary that neglecting those issues can greatly compromise your child's growth and development. Children should get enough sleep to provide them with the needed energy so they can go on with their days enthusiastically energetic.
1. Sleepwalking. This condition, medically somnambulism, is a sleep disorder belonging to the parasomnia family. In this state, sleepwalkers arise from their slow wave sleep stage with low consciousness and perform activities that are usually done during a state of full consciousness. This act is potentially dangerous because they may be at risk of falls and hurting themselves. If your child is a sleepwalker, make sure to close the door of his/her room to prevent accidents, such as falling from the stairs. Also, keep away sharp objects or any other dangerous materials from his/her reach.
2. Frequent waking. According to Edward Kulich, MD, paediatrician, sleep consultant, and author of the €The Best Baby Sleep Book€, €Frequent waking can be a developmental phase or a sight of stress, either at home or at school.€ This might take a toll on your child's growth and developmental milestones. Talk to your child to figure out if there is something bothering him/her. Also examine your home for stressors that may affect your child's sleep.
3. Nightmares. Most kids experience these scary dreams that usually start around preschool age. The reasons and origin of these bad dreams are actually unknown, but there are actually ways in preventing them or at least calming your child whenever these happen. Cuddle your child when these occur; reassure them that it's all just but a dream. It will also help if you eliminate factors in your child's environment that contributes to his/her nightmares, such as the scary photo that flashes on your latest gadget.
4. Anxiety. Children, the same as adults, experience things or events that worry them. Anxiety may not manifest in your children during the day due to the distraction and activities they take. But, this starts to bother them at night when things start to settle down. They may experience restlessness and inability to relax, which may affect their sleep. If in any case you see your child suffering from anxiety, talk to him/her. Give them a chance to talk about their worries during the day. When conversing, be transparent as an LCD screen protector, so that they will get the feeling that there is no reason to hide things from you.
5. Bedwetting. This condition, medically known as enuresis, is very stressful for children. It can tremendously affect your child's self-esteem. Having no control over their bladder causes them to feel self-doubt, recriminations, and shame. They tend to regress, which is often a result of a stressful event that affects their psychological state and development. When dealing with them, stay positive. Encourage progress in preventing this sleep issue, and acknowledge that setbacks occur. Praise your child for his/her progress, and maintain a non judgmental attitude by not embarrassing them for failing to keep themselves dry at night.
The sleep issues mentioned above might just seem like problems not needing immediate attention, but be wary that neglecting those issues can greatly compromise your child's growth and development. Children should get enough sleep to provide them with the needed energy so they can go on with their days enthusiastically energetic.
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