Therapy Professionals

  • Home
    • History >
      • Cantabrainers Choir
      • Tribute to Clare O'Hagan
    • Client Information
    • Rights and Responsibilites
    • Careers
    • Testimonials
  • Services
    • Assessment, Treatment & Consultation
    • Workplace/home safety
    • For organisations
    • Nail Trimming
  • Therapies
    • Physiotherapy
    • Speech-Language Therapy >
      • Communication
      • Swallowing
    • Music Therapy
    • Occupational Therapy
    • Dietetics
  • Gift Vouchers
  • Contact
  • Information
    • Information and Handy Hints
    • Blog
    • Links
    • Facebook
    • Events
    • Newsletters
  • Home
    • History >
      • Cantabrainers Choir
      • Tribute to Clare O'Hagan
    • Client Information
    • Rights and Responsibilites
    • Careers
    • Testimonials
  • Services
    • Assessment, Treatment & Consultation
    • Workplace/home safety
    • For organisations
    • Nail Trimming
  • Therapies
    • Physiotherapy
    • Speech-Language Therapy >
      • Communication
      • Swallowing
    • Music Therapy
    • Occupational Therapy
    • Dietetics
  • Gift Vouchers
  • Contact
  • Information
    • Information and Handy Hints
    • Blog
    • Links
    • Facebook
    • Events
    • Newsletters

Information and Handy Hints

February 12th, 2020

12/2/2020

 
Picture
Why sleep is good for children

​Our brains are always active, even when we are asleep. While sleeping, the brain clears out its waste, sorts and stores information into our memories and regulates many of our body’s functions. 
 
Sleep is important for everyone, especially children as they are growing and learning at a great rate.  Here are some of the reasons why.
 
Growth and development
 
While a child sleeps growth hormone is released which is responsible for the development of bone and muscle bulk.  Children who get less sleep have less growth hormone.
 
 
Memory and therefore learning
 
While a child sleeps the things they’ve done and learnt during the day get sorted and stored in their long-term memory.  If they are sleep-deprived they’ll store 40% less information than those who get enough sleep.  Also sleep prepares them for learning, ensuring children can stay awake, concentrate and pay attention. 
 
 
Emotional, Social and Mental Health
 
Studies show when sleep deprived we become 60% more emotionally reactive and are physically slower responding to things; much like being drunk.  Lack of sleep may explain why some children are hyperactive, miss social cues, have regular “melt downs”, are anxious or appear clumsy and uncoordinated. This may also account for some childhood accidents.
 
Poor sleep is an issue in most mental health problems - anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder.
 
 
Improves our immune system
 
A child’s immune system keeps developing until adulthood.  While sleeping they produce cytokines (small proteins), which help them fight infections.  After just one poor night’s sleep the activity of cytokines reduces by 75%, making a child more susceptible to infections such as the common cold.
 
 
 
Maintaining a healthy body weight
 
Sleep helps regulate the daily fluctuations in the appetite hormones ghrelin (stimulates appetite) and lectin (suppresses appetite).  This means children don’t feel the need to eat constantly throughout the day or to store excess calories, so they don’t gain too much weight.  If they eat a healthy amount they will sustain their bodies and gain some muscle mass.  
 
Those children who don’t get enough sleep are more likely to be overweight, although there are other factors that influence weight gain.
 
The bodies of children who get enough sleep are able to react to insulin levels better. Insulin controls the levels of glucose in the blood.  Those who don’t get enough sleep have higher blood sugar levels and are at higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
 
 
How much sleep is enough?
 
Eric J. Olson’s (MD) guidelines recommend the following:
 
Age group. 
Newborns:   14 to 17 hours a day

12 months:  About 10 hours at night, plus 4 hours of naps

2 years:  About 11 to 12 hours at night, plus a 1- to 2-hour afternoon nap

3 to 5 years:  10 to 13 hours

6 to 13 years:  9 to 11 hours

14 to 17 years:  8 to 10 hours

Adults:  7 to 9 hours

 
Our next post on sleep will give some tips on how to establish good sleeping patterns for your children.


Comments are closed.

    Author

    Shonagh O'Hagan
    and Therapists at Therapy Professionals

    Archives

    May 2025
    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020

    All

    RSS Feed

Quick Links
Physiotherapy
Speech-Language Therapy
Music Therapy
Occupational Therapy
Dietetics
Phone: (03) 377 5280
Email:   [email protected]
Hours:  8:30am-4pm, Monday-Friday
Office: 12 Coronation St, Christchurch 
Postal address: PO Box 7807,
​                             Christchurch 8240
Disclaimer
Therapy Professionals makes every effort to ensure that the information provided on its web pages is accurate and up-to-date. Website content is subject to regular review and no warranty can be provided regarding the accuracy of it. © Therapy Professionals Ltd 2015. All rights reserved.