4 Reasons Why Going To Bed Late Is Bad For Kids

Good quality sleep is no less important than good nutrition for the general development of children. While this may seem obvious, many people don’t think twice about their children’s sleep schedules and late bedtime. 

Our modern lifestyle has greatly influenced this. People are sleeping less and less because of the overcrowded schedule. The fact that parents are so busy with work, children have so many school activities and that no one can take their eyes off the electronic devices plays a part.

Most worryingly, many are unaware of the consequences of going to bed late. While skipping naps or going to bed late may seem harmless, in reality these things have negative effects that can affect you for the rest of your life.

Why is this so bad? What can you do to change it?

Since not many parents pay attention to this, we decided to share the main risks and some tips to help you change your child’s sleeping habits.

Why is it important for your child to sleep well?

Before we get into the consequences of going to bed late, it’s important to remember why children need to sleep well. While some little ones refuse to go to bed early, this habit is more important than it seems.

A good night’s sleep is one of the best ways to generate energy. Sleeping recharges the brain’s ‘battery’ so that you can deliver optimal mental performance throughout the day. Therefore, the child’s brain will be alert and calm after a good night’s sleep.

On the other hand , sleep also affects physical abilities. When you rest, the muscles get rid of the stress of the day and are ready to take on new challenges. This is obviously key for your child’s school and sports activities.

What does healthy sleep mean?

Healthy sleep for children not only means going to bed early, but also:

• Get enough sleep (not less than 10 hours a night).
• Uninterrupted sleep.
• Take enough naps.
• A sleep schedule that is in sync with the child’s circadian rhythms (internal biological clock).

If any of the above is confused, it can cause symptoms of sleep deprivation. The good news is that there are several habits that can help keep things on track.

Reasons why going to bed late is bad for kids

One of the hardest things for parents is getting their kids to go to bed early. With so many distractions , kids just don’t want to go to bed.

But if this problem is not addressed, it can harm their development and growth. While it may seem irrelevant, poor sleep can be the cause of many future problems.

1. It Causes Concentration Problems

Poor sleep quality has a negative effect on the mental health of the child. Not getting enough sleep makes the child less mentally alert and unable to concentrate on his activities.

Poor sleep is the most common cause of a lack of concentration in the classroom. It can also make the child less active and even lazier.

2. It Causes Sleepiness

Going to sleep late can be the reason that children suffer from daytime sleepiness. Not getting enough sleep (less than 10 or 12 hours, depending on their age) can make them feel tired and sleepy throughout the day.

3. The child feels tired

Drowsiness goes hand in hand with fatigue. Contrary to what some think, not only adults suffer from this. Children may also experience weakness and fatigue due to poor sleep.

They can also go into a ‘hyper-alert’ state, which can cause even more troublesome sleep disturbances. This is because in this state the secretion of hormones such as adrenaline increases. These keep the brain awake.

4. It increases the risk of obesity

Poor sleep patterns may increase the risk of childhood obesity. This is according to a scientific study that collected data from 29 studies in 16 countries.

This research suggests that going to bed late or interrupted sleep may be a risk factor for obesity.

How can you improve your child’s sleeping habits?

Parents need to understand that children don’t just outgrow their sleeping problems and so they need their help to solve it. To do this, you need to monitor their sleep patterns. Remember that they should go to bed between 7:30 PM and 8:30 PM.

The whole family should be involved in this process. It is easier for the child to understand that they need to rest when they see that their parents and siblings are also getting enough sleep.

To ensure that their sleep is uninterrupted , they should also sleep in distraction-free rooms such as TVs, computers or tablets.