Sleeping Tips for Kids: How to Help Them Rest
By Genevieve Cunningham
If you've ever been around a kid who is lacking sleep, then you know just how important it is for children to get enough rest. Sleep is crucial for children's health. It helps them grow, helps them heal when they're sick, and keeps their moods stable and even. When they don't get enough, you definitely know it. But the truth is that sometimes getting kids to fall asleep can be difficult, and this often leads to a bit of sleep deprivation. If you need a little help getting your kids to sleep, take a look at these tips to help them get the rest that they so desperately need.
Get Them Active Early
If you want kids to sleep, then they're going to have to be active during the day. The best thing to do is to get them active early. Make them go outside or have them play with friends. They need to move their muscles and run and engage themselves in active play. This will help tire them out and get them more prepared for sleep when the time rolls around.
Set a Bedtime
Kids really need a bedtime. It's tempting to let them stay up as long as they need in order to prevent the inevitable fight that happens at bedtime. But this is a really bad idea for their overall health. Kids need even more sleep than adults, and in order to get that, they need to go to bed at a decent hour. Set your children a bedtime, and start their wind-down routine about 30 minutes prior. This will help them set their own internal clock so that they can fall asleep when their bedtime is near.
Limit Screen Time
Screen time can really do damage to a kid. And one way in which it can harm their health is by keeping them awake. The screen constantly stimulates their eyes and brain, and it makes it difficult for them to wind down at the end of the day. If you want your kids to get better rest, you really need to limit screen time. This includes laptops, phones, devices, and even the television. Set a limit, and stick to it no matter how many tears are shed. This will really help in the long run with both their sleep as well as their overall health.
Sleep is an incredibly important aspect of a child's health. And as parents, it's our job to make sure that they get enough. While you can only do so much, you should definitely make an effort to teach them good healthy sleeping habits. Use these tips to get started, and you may have your children sleeping like babies before you know it.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in San Clemente, Calif.
