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Writer's pictureTeam Sukoonify

Healthy sleep habits for older children and teens

Updated: Aug 5



Developing healthy sleeping habits is the need of the hour for the benefit of children's growth and health. Maintaining a habit that supports the physical and mental health of the children's is essential because the sleeping patterns will change with age.


The Significance of Sleep

Sleep is essential to a child's growth and development. Sufficient sleep is beneficial for academic achievement, emotional control, cognitive development, and physical growth. The body grows muscles, repairs tissues, and processes information when we sleep—all of which are essential for memory and learning.


Obstacles to Restful Sleep

When kids grow into teenagers, a number of things can interfere with their sleep schedules:

  • Academic and social demands: late bedtimes are frequently the result of homework, extracurricular activities, and social gatherings.

  • Screen Time: Using smartphones right before bed could disrupt the body's synthesis of melatonin, which can lead to poorer quality sleep.

  • Biological Shifts: Due to the above causes , there occurs a biological shift in the sleeps of teens , due to which it gets more difficult for them to get to sleep early


Developing Restful Sleeping Routines

1. Regular Sleep Schedule

Encourage your child to follow a regular bedtime and wake-up schedule, including on weekends. This enhances the quality of their sleep by regulating their internal clock.


2. Calming Down Before Bed

A peaceful nighttime ritual indicates that it's time to unwind. Reading, having a warm bath, or playing kid-friendly music before bed can all be beneficial. An atmosphere that is calm and supportive of sleep can be produced by soft music.


3. Set screen time limits.

Cut back on screen time at least one hour before going to bed. It may be more difficult to fall asleep when melatonin production is inhibited by the blue light from devices. Promote screen-free activities such as reading or relaxing music listening.


4. Establish a Sleep-Friendly Space

Make sure the bedroom has a cozy mattress, closed curtains, and a peaceful environment to promote restful sleep. Soft lullabies or baby sleep music can help create a calm atmosphere that encourages rest and sleep.


Advice for Parents

In order to assist their children in forming sound sleeping habits, parents can be quite important.

1. Set a positive example for restful sleep.

Youngsters frequently imitate their parents' actions. You lead by example if you prioritize your own sleep and have a regular routine.


2. Promote exercise.

Children who engage in regular physical activity sleep deeper and more soundly. Promote daytime activities, but steer clear of strenuous exercise right before bed.


3. Keep an eye on your caffeine intake.

It's crucial to restrict your child's intake of caffeinated drinks, particularly throughout the afternoon and evening, as caffeine can cause sleep disruption.


4. Discuss Sleep

Teach your kids the value of getting enough sleep and how it impacts their health. Knowing the advantages can spur individuals to make sleep a priority.


Extra Advice on Developing Healthy Sleep Practices


Include breathing exercises and mindfulness.

Using mindfulness and relaxation practices might be helpful as kids get older. Before going to bed, techniques including progressive muscle relaxation, guided visualization, and deep breathing exercises might help them relax. Early instruction in these methods can provide kids with useful strategies for coping with stress and anxiety, which will improve their sleep.


Healthy Eating and Drinking

The quality of sleep is also significantly influenced by nutrition. Encourage your child to eat a varied, well-balanced diet and make sure they drink plenty of water throughout the day. Before going to bed, stay away from large meals and an abundance of sugar or caffeine, as they can disrupt your sleep. If your youngster is feeling peckish right before bed, a little glass of milk or a piece of fruit might make a good light snack.


Keep an eye on and modify the sleeping environment.

Make sure your child's sleeping environment is still restful by checking on it on a regular basis. Improving the temperature of the room, making sure the bed is comfy, and changing out your clothes according to the season can all help create a more conducive sleeping environment. Additionally, blackout curtains can contribute to the creation of a calming, gloomy atmosphere—especially during the summer's longer days.


Encourage Older Children to Be Independent

As kids grow into teenagers, help them assume greater accountability for their sleeping patterns. Inform them of the value of getting enough sleep, and let them help establish your nighttime ritual. Giving children the tools to make wise sleep decisions can help them develop a sense of independence and make sure they prioritize getting enough sleep as they get older.


Remain constant in spite of changes.

Sleep patterns might be disturbed by life transitions like holidays, changes in schools, or taking up new hobbies. Even during these periods, make an effort to stick to a regular sleep routine. Maintaining consistency helps prevent short-term disturbances from turning into long-term problems and reinforces healthy sleeping patterns.


The Benefits of Music for Better Sleep

An effective strategy for encouraging restful sleep patterns is music. The music on Spotify is curated to create the ideal atmosphere for a restful nighttime routine. The soothing effects of children's sleep time music and baby sleep music can facilitate the shift from wakefulness to sleep. Our carefully selected playlists feature calming, mellow tunes that help kids of all ages unwind and get ready for bed. These playlists contain soothing melodies and quiet rhythms that might help parents and kids enjoy bedtime more.


Sukoonify

Our mission at Sukoonify is to use music's calming effects to improve kids' and families' quality of sleep. Our carefully selected Spotify playlists include kid-friendly sleep music and soothing lullabies for newborns, fostering a relaxing nighttime atmosphere. Sukoonify has the ideal collection of tailored lullabies and the best baby sleep music to ensure your child has the restful sleep they require.


Conclusion

It is crucial for their development and general wellbeing to assist older kids and teenagers in forming sound sleeping habits. Parents may promote their children's sleep health by keeping a regular sleep schedule, establishing a calming bedtime ritual, minimizing screen time, and creating a sleep-friendly environment. 

Take the help of Sukoonify lullabies or Spotify playlists to further enhance your bedtime routine, making sure your children get quality sleep. Prioritize sleep in your family’s routine and witness the positive impact on your children’s academic performance, emotional stability, and overall health.


FAQs


How to Help Teenagers Get More Sleep

Encourage consistent sleep schedules, limit screen time before bed, create a relaxing bedtime routine, ensure a sleep-friendly environment, and educate teens on the importance of sleep for overall well-being.

How to Maintain a Regular Sleep Schedule

Set consistent bedtimes and wake-up times, even on weekends, create a calming pre-sleep routine, avoid caffeine and heavy meals before bed, and keep the sleep environment dark and quiet.

How Many Hours a Child Needs Sleep

Children aged 6-12 need 9-12 hours of sleep per night, while teenagers aged 13-18 should aim for 8-10 hours of sleep to support their growth and development.

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