Sleep is a major pillar for a child’s overall health and development. It plays several crucial roles that affect a child’s cognitive function, emotional well-being and physical growth. Getting adequate sleep can help kids build a stronger memory, learn new information and develop new problem-solving skills. It also helps them maintain their emotional well-being while providing them with the energy to overcome their daily challenges with resilience. Proper sleep promotes growth and strengthens your child’s immunity system. Sleep deprivation, on the other hand, puts them at risk of various health problems. It also causes them difficulties in their academics which could tarnish their overall growth.
Why do children need good sleep?
Here are the reasons why your child must get ample sleep in his young days.
Brain development
During sleep, your body releases hormones that support brain development. It also helps children retain what they have learned during the day. In the childhood phase, the brain develops quickly. Hence, good sleep becomes essential in preserving synapses or neural connections. Memory and learning rely on the neurons in your brain which strengthen as children sleep. Children who do not get enough sleep may become impulsive and hyperactive.
Cognitive function
Sleep also affects the learning behaviour in children through changes in the brain. If children do not get enough sleep, they may suffer from impaired cognitive functions which include decision-making, memory recollection and conflict-solving. These weaknesses may also affect their academic results as they disturb a child’s focus and memory – both of which are necessary for effective learning.
Emotional well-being
Having a good night’s sleep can also help children regulate their emotions and improve their overall mood when they wake up. Not having enough sleep can make it difficult for the child to control their emotions. Developing brains are less flexible in adjusting to sleep deprivation. Hence, it is common to see sudden mood swings, anxiety, and irritability in children who don’t get enough sleep.
Neurodevelopmental disorders
It has also been found that sleep problems have links with neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and even schizophrenia. Studies have claimed that sleep-deprived juveniles exhibit molecular changes similar to ones affected with ASD. It suggests that sleep deprivation could have a critical impact on the brain’s growth.
Long-term brain health
A proper sleep schedule is one of the easiest counters to sleep deprivation. Considering that developing brains are more vulnerable to sleep deprivation, parents could come up with a fixed schedule. They can also enhance the bedtime regime by ensuring the environment is calmer after a certain time which could help lay the groundwork for maintaining brain health in the long-term.
