There's an Enemy in the Family….Sleep deprivation

This week the children at New Hope Christian Academy will be learning about the importance of sleep! A large percentage of America is sleep deprived.  Sleep is so important that inadequate amounts could have negative effects on your child's mental and psychological development. Children who receive an inadequate amount of sleep are not alert, not ready to learn, irritable, and have impaired judgment. During sleep, the body is undergoing tissue growth, repairing muscles, building bones, consolidating memory, restoring energy, and regulating hormones. Help your child to reach their full potential in life by establishing healthy sleep patterns.

Some healthy sleep tips include:

·         Establishing a bedtime routine (brushing teeth, bathing, praying, reading a book). Bedtime routines should not consist of things that will stimulate the child to be active. A soothing bedtime routine will help relax the body and promote sleep.

·         Going to bed at the same time every night. This will help establish a regular sleep-wake cycle.  A sleep-wake cycle is like a natural clock that tells the body when to sleep and when to wake up.

·         Not exercising right before bedtime. Exercise causes an increase in heart rate, blood flow, and breathing. As a result, your body will be pumped from the workout that it will not be ready for bed. So, exercise early enough to give your body time to return back to its normal state.

·         Not eating right before going to bed. Your body is still trying to digest what you have eaten and is not ready for bed. Eating at least one hour before bedtime will allow your body to digest its food and become ready for bed.

·         Set the atmosphere for sleep. It is important to dim the lights so that your body will be able to relax. Also, it is important to have a quiet environment. This will decrease your body from being distracted from the surrounding environment.

·         Avoiding caffeine prior to bedtime (sodas, coffee, and chocolate). Caffeine is considered a stimulant. This stimulates the body to want to be active.

·         Control TV and Internet times. Most school-age children can become so consumed in watching television and surfing the internet that they do not have the desire to sleep. Controlling this will help establish a routine and minimize sleep distractions.

Below is a video on the importance of children obtaining adequate amount of sleep.

Parents, your children are like sponges! They absorb all that you do! If they are going to have healthy sleep pattern, it will have to be because the family is maintaining a healthy sleep pattern. The amount of sleep you and your child receive, will determine the quality of the next day!

So, HEALTH YOUR FAMILY by removing the enemy from your house!

You can go to bed without fear; you will lie down and sleep soundly. Proverbs 3:24 (NLT)