Learn About the Common Mistakes Which Hinders Your Child’s Sleep With the International Preschool

Sleep is essential in your child’s development, well-being, and happiness; as parents, you can assist your child’s development in countless ways, but perhaps the most important way to assist your child’s development is to support their sleep. Many children struggle with sleep for various reasons, so knowing the common mistakes parents make can help you improve your child’s sleep. This blog will discuss the common parent mistakes regarding sleep and how a preschool environment, including an International Preschool, can play a key role in encouraging good sleep patterns.

Inconsistent Bedtime Routine

One of the most common mistakes made by parents is a failure to maintain a consistent bedtime routine. Children respond well to routine and structure, as it fosters their sense of security and helps them know what to expect. The longer you vary your child’s bedtime, the more you can confuse their internal clock and sleep patterns, making it difficult for them to fall asleep.

A set of predictable calming activities, such as a warm bath, reading a bedtime story, or singing a lullaby, prepares your child for sleep, allowing the body to wind down from the day’s activities. To remedy this, establish and maintain a set routine that begins at the same time each night. Consistency will teach your child’s body that it is time to go to bed, allowing him/her to settle more easily at bedtime.

Excessive Screen Time Before Sleep

One more mistake, as found by the international preschool near me, is allowing children to have screen time (television/tablets/smartphones) before sleep. The blue light emitted by a screen can interfere with the production of melatonin, which regulates sleep. Exposure to blue light just before bed can delay sleep onset and make it difficult for your child to fall asleep quickly. Encourage them to do things to relax and prepare for sleep, such as reading or listening to softer music.

Overstimulating activities before bed

Parents can accidentally provide their children with an energy burst right before bed. As a parent, it’s wonderful that you are allowing your child to expend energy through playing or running around, but if it is too close to bedtime, it will be harder for your child to wind down before sleep. Physical activity provides increased adrenaline and cortisol, making it more difficult for children to unwind and fall asleep.

​Instead, plan the active activities with play school near me earlier in the day and follow it with a quieter activity in the evening. Activities that are calm and soothing, such as drawing, puzzles, and quiet book reading make excellent evening or pre-bedtime activities.

Wrong Sleep Environment

Your child’s sleep environment is an important aspect of their ability to fall and stay asleep. If your child doesn’t sleep in an appropriate sleep environment, mistakes like too much light, noise, or an uncomfortable mattress can disrupt sleep. For instance, a room that is too light can inhibit the production of melatonin and can make it harder for your child to get deep, restorative sleep. A noisy environment can also keep them awake or wake them during sleep.

Keep your child’s bedroom quiet, dark, and cool. You may want to use blackout curtains or dim the lights before bed. If noise is a problem, white noise machines can provide background noise to help calm them.

Not Enough Daily Physical Activity

Physical activity is important for sleep. Children need to get tired by using up a lot of their energy during the day to know it’s time to sleep at night, as suggested by the best International Preschool. No physical activity or too little means children will have difficulty winding down in the evening because they never used their energy in the first place.

Get your child outdoors, in a sport, or other active games during the day. Physical activity will allow your children to sleep more soundly, and they will fall asleep quickly. The only caution is to make sure the activity is not too close to bedtime, which can overstimulate them.

Inadequate Nap Timing

Napping is a vital activity for preschoolers, but if a child takes a nap too late in the day, it will put the child’s nighttime sleep at risk. If there is too close a proximity to bedtime for the nap, it may make the child take longer to settle into sleep because they simply are not tired enough. Similarly, if their naps are on the shorter side or they occur infrequently enough, the child will likely become overtired, which may also lead to sleep issues.

Feel free to try to time the naps to take place as early as possible in the day, ideally in the late morning or early afternoon, and then just try to keep them to the appropriate duration (typically 1 to 2 hours for preschoolers). This way, they are not too tired, but also not too energised or on task for bed.

End Notes

Creating a healthy sleep routine for your child involves understanding and avoiding common mistakes. From ensuring a consistent bedtime routine to managing the sleep environment and addressing fears, there are many ways you can help your child achieve restful sleep. An International Preschool can also play a significant role in setting a consistent sleep schedule, providing early childhood development support, and helping your child establish positive habits that promote good sleep.

For a nurturing environment where your child’s overall well-being is prioritized, consider choosing a preschool that values early learning and development. Explore more about such opportunities at The Cambria International School, where your child’s sleep, growth, and happiness come first.