Being a parent basically means trying to encourage your child to go to sleep at a reasonable bedtime for their entire childhood until they reach adulthood.
We are all aware of how important sleep is for their development and helping them grow but did you know that they need almost just as much sleep as they get older too?
It is a different kind of struggle to get them to sleep when they get a little older. We know.
Once they can talk and get out of bed and tell you all of the important things they forgot to tell you that day, it's game over.
It is recommended that children of school-going age 6 to 13 get about 9 to 11 hours sleep per night and teens 14-17 years of age get around 8-10 hours per night.
In their early teens, brains and bodies are developing quickly. This is one of the reasons why it is so important for them to get enough sleep.
Not getting enough sleep to most teens is no big deal. But, research shows that teens who don’t get enough sleep are at a higher risk of struggling in school, having trouble concentrating and motivation.
Lack of sleep and being overtired can also lead to a feeling of depression which can lead to some serious health concerns.
Signs your child may need more sleep:
- Difficult to wake up in the morning.
- Moody or irritable.
- Difficulty concentrating or completing a task.
How to help them get enough sleep:
Get them into a routine
No, routines are not just for the younger ones. It is healthy to encourage your older children to have a winding down, relaxing routine before bed each night.
Use their bed for sleeping!
Try to avoid letting them use their bed for school work or screen time. Let them associate it with going to sleep.
No naps.
Teenagers love to nap. Try to discourage it as it will only end up getting them into a bad sleep routine.