With the new school term approaching, ensuring you child has the best possible sleep is the ideal way to guarantee a productive next day.
Although the summer holidays are in full swing, the start of term will soon be upon us, with parents swapping late bedtimes for early nights for their kids to prepare for a busy next day at school.
With a sleep routine playing an important role to your child’s attention-span and education, Silentnight Sleep expert, Sally Bonser, has shared some tips to help parents encourage a positive sleep routine to give the best chance possible for a productive school week, when term comes around:
“Lots of parents are happy for their children to have a later bedtime during the holidays, as they typically aren’t waking up as early for school the following day. Children aged between 6-12 need 9-12 hours of sleep each night, in order to provide them with the best productivity and energy levels for school. Therefore, it is all the more important for an earlier bedtime to be implemented during the new school term.
“To guarantee that your kids are waking up at the right time and getting enough sleep each night, during the final week of the school holidays gradually bring forward bedtime each night until it matches their usual termtime routine. By doing this, the initial shock of waking up earlier will be reduced, making for a better morning mood.
“The next step to introducing a healthy routine is to limit screen time before bed. Light from phone screens and the TV is a sure way to prevent sleep, meaning less exposure to technology is a must. Try to limit tech time to at least an hour before bed, with phones and iPads being removed from the room until the next day to avoid distractions. Replace the evening wind down time with an alternative activity such as reading.
“If your child struggles to fall asleep after a summer of fun and later nights, make sure that their bedroom is a space which has an optimum sleep environment. Consider using black out blinds if the curtains are letting in too much light during the earlier evenings, this will block any unnecessary sun from shining through and preventing sleep.
“Finally, to guarantee a well-rested night’s sleep, ensure your child’s bedding is as comfortable as can be to suit their sleep style. The Silentnight Healthy Growthy Breathable Pillow features mesh sides to increase airflow, ideal for those who tend to get a little hot during the night. For those who need a little calm before sleep, the Silentnight Healthy Growth Calming Duvet is 40% heavier than a standard duvet, this provides a hug-like feeling to promote a deeper sleep.”
To find out more about Silentnight’s Healthy Growth range of child-friendly products designed with comfort in mind, visit https://sleepypeople.com.
