What is Sleep?
Sleep is a healing need in which the tiredness of the whole day is relieved, our body and brain take care of themselves, refresh and grow, put themselves on hold against the stimuli of the outside world, and organize and process the events experienced during the day. It is important to know that our children's tiny bodies also need adequate and regular sleep habits.
What is My Child's Daily Sleep Need?
According to the American National Sleep Foundation, preschool children (3-5 years old) age) daily sleep need is 10-13 hours.
What are the benefits of a regular and healthy sleep habit?
(Read this benefits section with your child and discuss what benefits you will gain by going to bed early.) Knowing these benefits will motivate them.)
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Children grow up healthier. Growth hormones are secreted more during sleep.
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Sleep increases children's intelligence capacity.
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Memory becomes stronger. It is beneficial to the learning process.
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Concentration problems decrease.
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The immune system becomes stronger.
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Getting up in the morning will not be a problem, you will not be late for work or school, there will be less tension and conflict in the morning.
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Children who sleep regularly will have healthier habits
It has been observed that the child acquires and stays away from bad habits more easily.
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A child who goes to bed at the same time every night learns to organize his life more easily.
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Children who sleep well participate in activities such as sports and music more because they will not be tired after school.
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Research shows that children who sleep regularly behave less at school.
When the time comes, they have fewer conflicts with their children.
Mom and dad can only rest after the child sleeps. Parents who have to take care of their children until 12 at night have no opportunity to rest and relax.
Children who get their sleep are in a more positive mood.
The Most Common Sleep Problems in Preschool Children and Solutions
Crying at bedtime, resisting falling asleep, waking up frequently at night, getting out of bed and wanting to get into the parents' bed are among the main problems. If you are experiencing such problems with your child, do not worry, you are not alone. Let's not forget this; 1 in 3 children experience such problems at certain periods, and these problems are usually temporary. On the other hand, such problems with the child
can increase the stress level of everyone in the family and disturb the peace of the family.
What should be done if your child resists not going to bed on time?
<First, meet your child whom you want to develop sleeping habits and explain clearly that you have made some new decisions and that you want to establish a sleep routine at home.
Set a clear and unchanging time to go to sleep. For example, let your bedtime be at 21:30 and let your child know it.
Give the signal that bedtime is approaching, around 21:00.
Do not change or stretch the time unless it is a very important situation.
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Let's not forget that there is an order in the functioning of our body. Going to bed at a regular time every day allows the child's biological clock to be adjusted, so that the child gets sleepy at the same time every night
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When it's time to sleep, try to minimize the noise in the house. Remember that a child who thinks that everyone at home is having fun, chatting and doing enjoyable things, will not want to sleep
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For before sleep set a routine; such as brushing teeth, putting on pajamas, going to the toilet, reading/telling stories. Doing these before going to bed will make it easier for the child to fall asleep mentally and physically. You can adapt this routine to your specific circumstances.
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Active games played before sleepstimulate children's minds and help them fall asleep. It makes it worse. At this point, it is useful to mention especially the computer/phone/tablet. Children who constantly play and care about them have difficulty sleeping because their brains are overstimulated. In more scientific terms; The sleep center in the brain perceives the constant lights coming from the computer or television as "the day is not over yet" and does not send sleep signals and the desire to sleep does not occur.
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Especially after the age of 4, the child's bedtime is late
If so, you can limit your afternoon nap.
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Difficulty falling asleep can sometimes be a result of anxiety and fears. Some preschool children experience separation anxiety and find it difficult to go to bed because their parents will leave them alone. Some children are also afraid of the dark or become frightened by images they witness on television, in movies or in computer games. In such cases, the best solution is usually to reassure parents. It would also be useful to have a night light in the child's room.
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In sleep training, it is used at waking timeas well as bedtime
importance should be given. In order for the sleep pattern to be established, the child should be woken up at the same time every day, without being too late.
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Create a chart regarding the habit of sleeping on time and waking up on time, every week. If the ending fits this chart
you can also receive a gift or reward. Encouraging success is always important.
Why is it important for children to sleep in their own bed?
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From the age of 4 Afterchildren sleeping with their parents in their parents' room may cause problems in gaining their individuality, self-confidence and identity development.
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It is important for the child to adopt his room. Having his/her own blanket, pillow and bed, within the circumstances, will make it easier for him/her to adopt his/her room and
bed.
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Your child is the only one. If the child does not sleep in his/her room, sit on a chair placed next to the child's bed. . 15 minutes
You can read a book and chat. Afterwards, the light is turned off and verbal communication ends. When your child insists on continuing talking, say, “It's bedtime now. Just say "I'm with you"
. For children who have difficulty in this regard, the transition should be made gradually and smoothly. After a while, one should sit in a place further away from the bed, wait at the door of the room in the following
nights, and in the last stage, read a book, say good night and leave the room.
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When he wakes up at night and comes to the parents, you should be taken back to his bed, and you should not take the child with you.
If necessary, you should sit next to him for a while and remind him that he should sleep in his own bed.
LET'S REMEMBER; Acquiring a behavior or establishing a habit is a process that takes time, and the most important factor is consistent, appropriate and correct parental attitudes.Read: 0
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