“Sleep is an essential building block for your child’s mental and physical health. But if you’re finding it impossible to help your toddler sleep, you’re not alone.”  

- Danielle Pacheo & Dr. Nilong Vyas of the Sleep Foundation 

Sleeping is when the brain and body are allowed to calm down and take a break. When a child has not had enough sleep, the brain reacts and this can mean emotions are heightened and fatigue is increased, causing them to suffer in school and everyday activities. 

For a good night of sleep, parents can put in place a set schedule that children stick to, and distractions - electronics, lights, sounds, etc. should be removed. 

"Sleep is crucial to a child’s development, health, and well-being" -Psychology Today

Why Parents Need Sleep Too: 

When children do not meet their required amount of time for sleep, it can become dangerous and can make permanent changes to their bodies.

Lack of sleep can affect their mood/emotions, attention span, relationships, and more.

Children who get an appropriate and healthy amount of sleep can have drastically better results in school, and their performance can improve greatly. 

Additional Links: 

Children and Sleep | Sleep Foundation

www.sleepfoundation.org/children-and-sleep

Kids and Sleep | Cleveland Clinic

health.clevelandclinic.org/kids-and-sleep

14 Ways to Improve Your Child's Sleep | World Eye Cancer Hope

wechope.org/child-life/14-ways-to-improve-your-childs-sleep/#:~:text=14%20Ways%20to%20Improve%20Your%20Child%E2%80%99s%20Sleep%201,...%208%20Consistent%20Timing.%20...%20More%20items...%20

References 

Mindstars Kids. (n.d.). Why Is Sleep Important? . Bing. https://www.bing.com/videos/riverview/relatedvideo?&q=importance%2Bof%2Bsleep%2Bfor%2Byoung%2Bchildren&mid=E76C9F3DB6E75C3A7653E76C9F3DB6E75C3A7653&FORM=VRDGAR

Pacheo, D., & Vyas, N. (2023, November 8). Children and sleep. Sleep Foundation. https://www.sleepfoundation.org/children-and-sleep

Psychology Today, “Children and Sleep.” Sussex Publishers, www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/sleep/children-and-sleep. Accessed 13 Feb. 2024. 

Xpertdox. (2018, May 28). How less sleep impacts a child’s brain. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_q6vva2xsNc