Sleep. Beautiful sleep. :)zzzzzzz
One of my favourite things in life has to be a good night’s sleep.
While many children struggle to get a refreshing nights sleep, 80% of children and teenagers with disabilities and neurodiversity are more likely to experience sleep disturbances.
The Australian Institute of Family Studies estimates that,
‘Around four in five children thought they were getting enough sleep, when they were in fact not meeting sleep guidelines for their age.’
And, when children are not meeting the minimum sleep guidelines, they are more likely to,
‘show symptoms of poor mental health (anxiety, depression, unhappiness)’.
Benefits of sleep
A good sleep pattern not only improves your child’s ability to talk, learn, play, and socialise, it also helps lift their energy levels, immune function, and their mood.
During the early childhood years sleep is essential to meet the demands of rapid growth, particularly in the brain. Sleep helps our brain to remember things and organise information so we can use it during the day as required.
What help is available?
Linda has been fortunate enough to have received training from a specialist allied health professional to support children with disabilities sleep better.
When we learn how to support those with the highest need, the information becomes readily available for the benefit of everyone, so these tips can help every family help their child.
Linda’s Top 5 Tips for helping children sleep better:
- Establish a regular bedtime routine.
- Enjoy at least an hour of active play during the day, preferably outside.
- Expose children to light in the morning, it helps to re-set their body clock. Open the blinds, go outside for a play, turn some lights on.
- In the evening reduce children’s exposure to bright lights. This sends messages to the brain and body it is time to sleep.
- Encourage quieter, calming activities in the evening, read a book together or share some quiet play before bed.
If you need more specialised advice and would like to know more about how to enhance your child’s sleep pattern, contact Linda Rigby who can provide tailored supports.