The Monkey Tree

According to a recent survey of over 500 parents by the bed makers Silentnight, one in eight children get less sleep than is recommended for adults. According to the experts two to five year-olds need an average of 12hrs sleep per night, yet the majority don’t enjoy this amount?  They found that most children had missed out on over 4,500 hours of their recommended sleep quota by the time of their seventh birthdays.

Professor Jim Horne of The Sleep Research Centre at Loughborough University states that the ideal situation is for the bedroom to be a haven for sleep and not an entertainment centre. ‘Bedrooms are changing from places of tranquillity and rest to places where there are lots of things to keep the child awake’. Today more than ever children’s bedrooms are home to TV/DVD players and computer equipment. Whilst this allows parents much needed time and space it can have the reverse effect of over stimulating them to the extent they stay up much later. Developing a routine prior to bedtime is not just for babies, toddlers and older children benefit too. A period of quiet winding down before bedtime followed by a routine, which stays the same as far as is possible each night is a good idea. A good nights sleep not only benefits the children but the whole family, setting you up for the next day ahead.