TIPS FOR HELPING KIDS FALL
STAY — ASLEEP
By Ken Schuster, PsyD
O
ddly, most of our understanding of sleep comes
not from knowing what happens when we
sleep but from noticing what happens when
we don’t. Sleep is a powerful restorative process. It
helps us function better physically, emotionally, and
metabolically. It helps us consolidate and form our
memories, and it has a direct effect on our attention
and behavior. That means, of course, that reduced sleep
leads to reduced capacity to do well in school. Kids who
don’t get enough sleep might even be mistaken for
having ADHD. Many of the symptoms are the same—
kids running low on sleep are less able to concentrate,
more easily distracted, and more hyperactive or
impulsive. And kids of all ages have a harder time
learning when they don’t get enough sleep, from fussy,
overtired infants to high schoolers nodding off in class.
6 | V O L U S I A parent M A G A Z I N E
The basics of sleep hygiene
Sleep is essential, but many of us, kids and adults alike,
don’t get enough of it. One of the best ways to get
back on track is through better sleep hygiene. This
means establishing habits that promote a good night’s
sleep, like setting a routine. Routines look different at
different ages. For example, infants aren’t born with
the same biological clock that keeps us asleep at night
and awake during the day. Instead infants will sleep
for a few hours and then stay awake for a few hours,
regardless of the time of day. This is perfectly normal
behavior for a newborn, so parents should let them
stick to their natural drowsiness patterns—and try to
sleep when they sleep. To avoid having an overtired
baby, parents should reinforce the natural sleep
schedule by starting a soothing activity after an hour or
so of an infant being awake.