The quality of your child's sleep reveals the problems he will fall into in the future
Researchers at the University of Houston believe that the quality of sleep a child gets now may be linked to how they handle future social situations.
If you've ever witnessed a child who didn't sleep well the night before, you've most likely seen firsthand the grin and frown on that child's face.
Tiredness can make even the most balanced and sane person feel upset and irritable.
But what if we told you that science believes that when your child is upset about not getting enough sleep, those same grumpy, tired-looking faces can tell you how she'll deal with her social problems in the future? It may sound strange, but stay tuned because the topic is about to get interesting.
Candice Alfano, a professor of psychology at the University of Houston, has published a new study in Affective Science looking closely at how changes in children's facial expressions after they don't get enough sleep can predict their future social problems.
"Children's sleep problems are associated with decreased social competence and increased problems in relationships with people, but we really don't understand what drives these associations," Alfano wrote in the study.
While doing the study, Alfano and her team evaluated 37 children between the ages of 7 and 11 on two different tests. At first, the children were very comfortable because they got a proper amount of sleep the night before.
Whereas in the second test, their sleep hours were limited, leaving them tired and irritated the next day. During the evaluation in the Alfano Lab, the children were shown two sets of images; Some images are associated with positive things, such as rainbows and ice cream, and others with negative images, such as dogs barking or taking a needle.
As the children viewed these images, the camera recorded their facial expressions. Two years later, parents were asked to report on their children's social behaviour.
In the study, Alfano wrote, "It was reported that children who showed less positive facial expressions in response to beautiful pictures when their sleep was limited, had more social problems after two years, even after taking into account their previous social problems."
So what does that mean? Alfano and her team believe that the quality of sleep children get when they are young can help them improve their social functioning in the future. This study aligns particularly well with a growing body of research that appears to show how adequate sleep can have dramatic effects on a child's future, from mental and physical health to social health.
But a study like this could worry parents of children who struggle to fall asleep or stay asleep. According to Yale Medicine, sleep problems among children are common, and up to 40% of parents seek help with their children's sleep problems. Sometimes these sleep problems are symptoms of health problems such as respiratory problems, restless leg syndrome, sleep disturbances, sleep apnea, and more.
Nevertheless, rest assured. It does not necessarily mean that a child if only sleeping problems, will have health or social problems for life. Experts agree that many common sleep problems can be alleviated by following a healthy sleep routine.
What is a healthy sleep routine?
Here are some tips that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends:
- Establish a consistent bedtime routine for your child that includes the same time he goes to sleep and wakes up.
- Make the bedroom comfortable for sleeping by keeping it dark and quiet while maintaining an appropriate temperature.
- Keep all screens and tech away from the bedroom.
- Avoid feeding them a heavy meal right before bed.
- Maintain a healthy and active lifestyle and get plenty of exercise during the day so that it is easier to sleep at night.
- Sing softly to the child or read him a book before he sleeps.
If your child is still having trouble sleeping despite sticking to a healthy sleep routine, it may be time to see his paediatrician look into his sleep.
YaleMedicine suggests that children with the following symptoms may need to be evaluated by a medical professional:
- Frequent awakening during the night
- Difficulty getting up in the morning
- snoring loudly
- excessive activity
- Feeling sleepy during the day
So the next time your child is having a hard time falling asleep or staying asleep, it may be helpful to ask if your family's sleep routine needs adjusting or if your child has some other health issue that is hindering their sleep.