Why Your Child Needs Regular Good Night's Sleep

For some families, the academic year has started on a good note; the school routines are now fully nested. For others, however, the challenge of transitioning from the jolly summer is still telling. School is both fun and hard work. When children have a good after-school routine, which adequately and appropriately nurtures them, the whole family (and school community) reap the benefits. Today, I would like to remind parents to encourage good 'switch off' routines especially for their primary school-aged children, to promote rest and good sleep for their child. Some benefits to keep in mind:

Emotional Regulation:
Sufficient sleep helps children manage their emotions, leading to a more stable mood and better classroom engagement.

Positive Behaviour:
Good sleep contributes to improved behaviour and helps children cope better with their feelings, and as an example, gives them clarity on choices when faced with conflicts with friends.

Learning and Memory:
Sleep is vital for memory consolidation, helping children retain information they have learnt throughout the day as well as forming new neural pathways for learning. A well-rested child has better concentration and likely to be more attentive, which helps them perform better in schoolwork. During lessons, teachers call for discussions, sharing of ideas and suggestions and for most children, the inability to think swiftly and contribute ideas is wholly due to tiredness carried on from sleep inadequacy.

Growth and Repair:
During deep sleep, the body restores energy, repairs tissues, and releases important growth hormones. Children become less restless and more willing to be active participants in their learning when they have the required energy boost from a good night's sleep.

Immune System and health boost:
Good sleep strengthens the immune system, reducing the risk of infections and illnesses. For some children, the frequent absences from school because of infections and minor illness can be easily managed through better implementation of sleep routines. Chronic sleep deprivation can increase the risk of developing serious health problems, such as such obesity and high blood pressure, in later life.

Remember, little changes can lead to big changes.