Bedtime lessons for the school holidays. Learn why sleep is so important for kids, even during the school holidays.
Children need sleep to grow and stay healthy. They need sufficient good sleep so that their bodies get the rest it needs to repair themselves. Sleep is also vital in regulating the immune system, making them less susceptible to diseases and illnesses. Getting quality shut-eye also means that they remain alert in the day so they can pay attention in class and learn better.
Think about your child’s sleep patterns. Is your child constantly falling asleep or struggling to stay awake during the day? If your child wakes up feeling refreshed and does not feel constantly lethargic in the afternoon, he or she probably has had a good night’s sleep.
If your child does not function well during the day or feels a constant lack of alertness, he may not be getting enough sleep.
The younger your child, the more sleep time your kid needs. Here are some sleep duration recommendations.
Newborns (0 to 3 months old) need at least 14 to 17 hours of sleep per day, whereas an infant (4 – 11 months old) need at least 12 to 15 hours of sleep per day. A toddler (1 to 2 years) will require 11 to 14 hours of sleep a day.
A pre-schooler (3 to 5 years) needs about 10 to 13 hours a day. The amount of sleep a child of school age (6 to 13 years) needs is around 9 to 11 hours a day.
School holidays are here! The kids are rejoicing. Does that mean it’s time for them to keep late nights? Not really! Did you know that even small amounts of sleep loss affect how children function in the daytime1?
Why not use their school holidays to maintain healthy sleep habits or even to build a sleep routine to make sure that they are sleeping through the night, as you have time to try out what works. Here are some suggestions you can put to the test.
Related: The Big Sleep
Related: 3 Ways to Improve Sleep Quality
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Visit Parent Hub, for more useful tips and guides to give your child a healthy start.
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This article was last reviewed on 25 Apr 2023
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