'19 Kids & Counting' Finale: One Duggar Moving Away
'Don't Be Tardy': Kim Wants To Have More Kids
Is It Really ADHD, or Just a Lack of Sleep?
Filed under: Preschoolers, Big Kids, Tweens, Teens, Development/Milestones: Babies, Feeding & Sleeping, Bedtime
Is your little one getting enough shut-eye at night? If not, they could be at risk for depression and other health problems. A study conducted at the University of Helsinki and National Institute of Health and Welfare has found that a child's short sleep duration (without sleeping difficulties) increases the risk for behavioural symptoms of ADHD. With a continent short on sleep, it's not hard to imagine that a child's sleep deprivation may start to show in behavioural ways rather than just old-fashioned tiredness. In this recent study, 280 healthy boys and girls wore devices on their wrists to monitor their sleep. Children whose average sleep was less than 7.7 hours a night had higher hyperactivity and impulsiveness scores, as well as a higher ADHD total score, versus those who slept longer.
Is it fair to say, then, that lack of sleep causes hyperactivity or impulsiveness?
Not necessarily, but it seems to be a component of behaviour as a whole. I think we all know as adults what our behavioural tendencies are when we get over-tired or failed to get enough sleep the night before. Though we may not want to admit it, when we're sleep deprived, it's easy to become snarling, snarky, coffee-dependent individuals. So it's not too hard to imagine how kids must feel when they're fighting to stay awake.
For a better idea of how many hours your kids should be spending in dreamland each night, here is a rough guide from WebMD:
- Ages 1-3: 12 to 14 hours per day
- Ages 3-6: 10.75 to 12 hours per day
- Ages 7-12: 10 to 11 hours per day
- Ages 12 to 18: 8.25 to 9.5 hours per day
Here are some tips to make sleep time more productive with your children:
- Keep bedrooms cool: This increases REM sleep (the deep dream phase of sleep).
- Insist on no TV or computer one to two hours before bed: The light from the TV or computer can delay the sleep producing hormone -- melatonin -- and delay sleep onset by 2 hours.
- Stick to a regular sleep schedule: This means keeping a regular bedtime and getting up at the same time every day. The body cannot get in a habit or routine unless you repeat it regularly.
- Encourage a 'wind down' mental activity with your kids: This can be reading, journalling, night-time stretches, a form of mediation or prayer, or listening to relaxing music. Anything to help calm the mind and get kids ready for bed.
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ReaderComments (Page 1 of 1)
2-09-2010 @ 1:31PM
Karina Richland said...I am an Educational Therapist in Los Angeles and work full time with Children that have ADHD. Many of the children I work with have such incredibly busy schedules that there really isn't much time for "down time." With so much expected homework from the schools and structured afternoon activities, our children are exhausted!
Children need to learn, imagine, create, and socialize. These are all linked to getting a good night's sleep! Rest gives the body and brains a chance to process experiences, memories and emotions. When a child is sleep deprived, they often have trouble managing behavior and emotions, focusin and paying attention in class.
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2-09-2010 @ 2:40PM
SKL said...Oh, and letting kids sleep on their tummies. That is the position most conducive to a deep, healthy sleep.
The "back to sleep" program is most likely a significant culprit in the rise of ADHD and other childhood behavior and learning disorders.
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