Are Your Kids Getting Enough Sleep?

One of the things that Dr. Staci Bolton kept coming back to during our discussion for Wire Talk about children with ADHD was how much sleep impacts our overall health and our ability to focus and make good choices. We think about sleep habits often when our child is an infant and during the toddler years, but once your child has moved past that age, sometimes we forget that healthy sleep habits still matter! I know all of you can relate to feeling like you can’t seem to think straight the morning after a long night of interrupted sleep with a sick child or a newborn. Our kids are the same way!

The American Academy of Pediatrics has published the following sleep guidelines:

Preschool (Ages 3-5) 10-13 hours (including naps)

Grade Schoolers (Ages 6-12) 9-12 hours

Teens (Ages 13-18) 8-10 hours

Do those numbers surprise you? If your kids are not getting that much sleep each night, maybe you need to take a good look at the sleep habits in your home. Here are some things to think about:

Are your kids getting enough activity in their day? Fresh air and physical exercise helps us all sleep better! Make sure you’re sending them outside each day.

Do you have a consistent evening routine? Kids of all ages thrive with a routine! Try to have a regular dinner time as much as you can and some down time in the evenings so everyone can wind down from the day slowly.

Are they taking technology to bed with them? Don’t let your child take a screen into their bedroom, especially at night! Set a time of day when phones, iPads, etc. need to be “turned in” and put them in a common location, like the kitchen or office for the evening.

Each of these things are habits we need to work on as well, mommas! Set a good example for your kids by creating healthy sleep habits for yourself and make it a priority for your entire family.