Sleep is a hugely important thing for all of us. No matter what else is going on in life, the amount and quality of sleep we get hugely impact our health and well-being. Unfortunately, many people struggle with sleep for several reasons. While some of these might be out of our control, sometimes it simply comes down to whether we have learned healthy sleep habits. This kind of thing can start to be shaped early in life, so as a parent, it’s super important to encourage positive sleep habits in your kids. Here are some ways you can do this.
Encourage a Wind-Down Routine
Much of the time when adults struggle with sleep, the concept of being able to ‘wind down’ is a significant factor in their ability to drift off easily. This can be hard to manage when we have a lot going on in our lives, but if from a young age we’ve gotten into the habit of engaging in a routine to help wind down, then this will be much easier as an adult too. You could suggest a gentle activity such as coloring in, and initiate a strict no-screen policy in the evenings.
Explain and Demonstrate the Importance of Pattern
Sticking to the same times for going to bed and waking up is a very helpful and healthy pattern to get into. Explaining this to your child will be beneficial, but even more so if you can also demonstrate this yourself. Kids learn a lot from observation.