Health & Fitness
National Sleep Foundation’s 2014 Poll Proves Proactive Parenting Leads to Improved Sleep for Children
Priyanka Yadav, D.O., CAQ, Pediatrics and Sleep Medicine Specialist at Somerset Medical Center’s Sleep for Life Center
Coinciding with Daylight Saving Time, this week Americans are presented with National Sleep Awareness Week™, an annual public education and awareness program created by The National Sleep Foundation (NSF), which runs from March 2-9. The annual campaign creates the perfect opportunity for individuals to educate themselves on the importance of sleep and how it affects their overall well-being.
Each year, as part of National Sleep Awareness Week, the NSF conducts a study regarding sleep behaviors in America. The 2014 Sleep in America® poll explores the sleep practices and beliefs within modern families with school-aged children. The poll results revealed a correlation between proactive parenting actions and better sleep in children. Here are some keys points from the poll:
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Children are not getting enough sleep
Although 9 in 10 parents believe sleep is extremely important to their child’s overall well-being, this year’s findings show that children are in fact not getting the sleep they need. Parents’ estimates of their children’s sleep time are lower than the sleep time recommendations of the NSF. When asked how much sleep their child requires to be fully functional and at their best, 26 percent of parents estimated at least one more hour of sleep than their child actually gets. Knowing your child’s sleeping pattern, as well as the recommended time of sleep for his or her age, can improve their sleep. You can view the NSF’s sleep time recommendations at http://www.sleepfoundation.org/how-sleep-works/how-much-sleep-do-we-really-need.
Turning electronics off while sleeping benefits your sleep
Technology constantly impacts our children’s daily lives, and not surprisingly, the findings show that they can also impact the quality of their sleep. Parents reported that 72 percent of children ages 6 to 17 sleep with at least one electronic device in their bedroom. According to the findings, parents estimate up to almost an hour difference in their children’s sleep when these electronics are left on. This lack of sleep also holds true in older children. Teens, on average, are likely to lose a half an hour of sleep, compared to those who turn the devices off. Results also showed that while 53 percent of parents whose teens never leave electronic devices on rated their teen’s sleep as excellent, only 27 percent rated excellent for teens that leave their devices on.
A busy schedule can affect sleep quality
Functionality of an entire family can be affected when sleep is not a priority. Results show that one-third of parents find that evening activities affect their children’s ability to get a good night’s sleep. Furthermore, 28 percent of parents report that in the past seven days, their children’s homework also caused a difficult night’s sleep. Additionally, 41 percent of adults revealed that these evening activities also brought challenges to their own sleep quality.
Imposed rules help increase sleep for children
The study confirms that when parents place and implement bedtime rules, children sleep longer. Of the 92 percent of parents who set one or more bedtime rules, 62 percent stated that they always enforce at least one of their rules. Children with sleep-related rules get an average of 70 more minutes of sleep compared to those children who have no such rules. Children whose parents set rules on the consumption of caffeinated drinks before bed can get almost an hour more of sleep than those without such rules. The poll also shows that children whose parents apply rules about watching television at night receive more than a half hour of sleep than those who do not.
Parents need to lead by example
The study shows a strong link between the sleeping habits of parents and their children. When parents have healthy sleep environments, including a place with appropriate sound, temperature and light, it is more likely that their children do as well. Two-thirds of children whose parents have electronic devices in their bedroom also have at least one device in their sleep environment. Only 24 percent of children have electronic devices in their bedroom when their parents do not. The results validate that like many things, when parents display good sleep habits their children will follow those practices by example.
As National Sleep Awareness Week concludes with the change to Daylight Saving Time on March 9, I encourage individuals and families to not to feel like they are losing an hour of sleep, but instead commit to getting a better night’s sleep regularly. The findings and results of this year’s study display the importance of a relaxing sleep environment and regular sleep schedule for children, as well as their parents.
It is extremely important that you educate yourself and inform your family of the benefits that quality sleep brings and the actions to take in order to improve your sleep. As a part of this year’s Sleep in America® poll and National Sleep Awareness Week, I urge you to further educate yourself and your children, implement steps to improve your sleep and in result, better your overall well-being.
Although 9 in 10 parents believe sleep is extremely important to their child’s overall well-being, this year’s findings show that children are in fact not getting the sleep they need. Parents’ estimates of their children’s sleep time are lower than the sleep time recommendations of the NSF. When asked how much sleep their child requires to be fully functional and at their best, 26 percent of parents estimated at least one more hour of sleep than their child actually gets. Knowing your child’s sleeping pattern, as well as the recommended time of sleep for his or her age, can improve their sleep. You can view the NSF’s sleep time recommendations at http://www.sleepfoundation.org/how-sleep-works/how-much-sleep-do-we-really-need.
Turning electronics off while sleeping benefits your sleep
Technology constantly impacts our children’s daily lives, and not surprisingly, the findings show that they can also impact the quality of their sleep. Parents reported that 72 percent of children ages 6 to 17 sleep with at least one electronic device in their bedroom. According to the findings, parents estimate up to almost an hour difference in their children’s sleep when these electronics are left on. This lack of sleep also holds true in older children. Teens, on average, are likely to lose a half an hour of sleep, compared to those who turn the devices off. Results also showed that while 53 percent of parents whose teens never leave electronic devices on rated their teen’s sleep as excellent, only 27 percent rated excellent for teens that leave their devices on.
A busy schedule can affect sleep quality
Functionality of an entire family can be affected when sleep is not a priority. Results show that one-third of parents find that evening activities affect their children’s ability to get a good night’s sleep. Furthermore, 28 percent of parents report that in the past seven days, their children’s homework also caused a difficult night’s sleep. Additionally, 41 percent of adults revealed that these evening activities also brought challenges to their own sleep quality.
Imposed rules help increase sleep for children
The study confirms that when parents place and implement bedtime rules, children sleep longer. Of the 92 percent of parents who set one or more bedtime rules, 62 percent stated that they always enforce at least one of their rules. Children with sleep-related rules get an average of 70 more minutes of sleep compared to those children who have no such rules. Children whose parents set rules on the consumption of caffeinated drinks before bed can get almost an hour more of sleep than those without such rules. The poll also shows that children whose parents apply rules about watching television at night receive more than a half hour of sleep than those who do not.
Parents need to lead by example
The study shows a strong link between the sleeping habits of parents and their children. When parents have healthy sleep environments, including a place with appropriate sound, temperature and light, it is more likely that their children do as well. Two-thirds of children whose parents have electronic devices in their bedroom also have at least one device in their sleep environment. Only 24 percent of children have electronic devices in their bedroom when their parents do not. The results validate that like many things, when parents display good sleep habits their children will follow those practices by example.
As National Sleep Awareness Week concludes with the change to Daylight Saving Time on March 9, I encourage individuals and families to not to feel like they are losing an hour of sleep, but instead commit to getting a better night’s sleep regularly. The findings and results of this year’s study display the importance of a relaxing sleep environment and regular sleep schedule for children, as well as their parents.
It is extremely important that you educate yourself and inform your family of the benefits that quality sleep brings and the actions to take in order to improve your sleep. As a part of this year’s Sleep in America® poll and National Sleep Awareness Week, I urge you to further educate yourself and your children, implement steps to improve your sleep and in result, better your overall well-being.
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