Summer means fun! Summer time is a freeing time for adults and children. Because the days are longer, the temperatures are hotter, and there are so many things to do that sometimes getting the appropriate number of resting hours escapes us all. For children, however, this could make for summer-time, sleepy-time blues.
Children who aren’t getting the appropriate hours of sleep with a regular bedtime routine will become temperamental, short-tempered, lethargic, and more vulnerable to illness. Sleep is especially important for children as it directly impacts mental and physical development. “So much physical and cognitive growth occurs during sleep,” says Peter Gorski, M.D. The Children’s Trust’s Chief Health and Child Development Officer, “It deserves the same attention from parents during summer as during the school year.”
Here are some ways you can help your children sleep better this summer:
1. Cool Breezes – when little ones are too hot their sleep suffers. Dropping the core body temperature triggers sleepiness in children and adults. Use room-darkening shades to keep rooms cooler and draw the shades closed when the sun is shining in on blistering hot days. Fans can help cool the air and provides white noise that may help children relax and get better sleep.
2. Sleep-overs – Let’s face it little sleep is allowed at sleep-overs – it breaks the kid code. Parents can ban together and encourage a healthy “lights-out” policy with their little guests so that the next day’s activities “aren’t ruined” with endless melt-downs. Planning ahead and not scheduling a heavy day of activities the day after a sleep-over is a good idea for the children, parents, and the whole family. Why borrow trouble?
3. Wear them out – Getting outside and letting the young ones run, swim, and play and run, swim, and play some more is a time-tested and mother-approved way of ensuring the household gets a good night’s rest. Exercise is recommended for all family members and, as we mentioned in a previous blog, has been linked to better sleep.
