Hello!
"Putting children to bed" is a path that every family raising children goes through at least once.
The ideal scenario is for children to be in bed by 8:30 PM, read a picture book together, and then peacefully fall asleep... but often it's not that easy, is it?
This time, we interviewed a certified psychologist about children's "sleep."
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Hello. My name is Tanaka, and I am a certified psychologist.
Today, I'd like to think with all of you about "sleep."
With many dual-income, nuclear families, people are getting home late from work. Before you know it, it's time to put the children to bed.
The children just won't go to sleep...
Even if they try to get into bed by 8:00 PM, they have trouble falling asleep...
While the situation varies by family, I'd like to consider the negative effects of not sleeping, including case studies.
Physical effects of lack of sleep
Persistent sleep deprivation or sleep disorders in children can increase the incidence of obesity and depression, or worsen their symptoms.(This is also mentioned on the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare's health information website for the prevention of lifestyle-related diseases.)
Problems with toddler sleep habits
According to surveys on toddler sleep habits conducted by the Japan Association for Maternal and Child Health in 1980, 1990, and 2000, the percentage of children aged 1 year 6 months, 2 years, 3 years, 4 years, and 5-6 years who went to bed after 10 PM increased across all age groups, indicating a gradual shift towards a later sleep schedule for children.
In the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare's Longitudinal Survey of Children Born in the 21st Century, which targeted over 40,000 children born in 2001, the most common bedtime at 4 years and 6 months was between 9 PM and 10 PM (50.1%), followed by between 10 PM and 11 PM (21.9%). The results showed that less than one in five children went to bed before 9 PM.
Problems with school-aged children's sleep habits
It is said that Japanese elementary, junior high, and high school students tend to stay up late, even by global standards. A certain number of students go to school without eating breakfast because they are too sleepy, and it is said that many children endure sleepiness during classes. As a result, they cannot concentrate in class, and there have even been cases where they were mistakenly diagnosed with developmental disorders such as learning disabilities or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
Causes of staying up late
There are various reasons for staying up late, such as TV, games, and studying, but it is also known that many children "just somehow stay up late" without any particular reason. In addition, it is said that exposure to blue light from using smartphones before bed can affect the body's internal clock and disrupt sleep rhythms.
Impact on the brain?
In addition to the aforementioned cases of disease onset and misdiagnosis of developmental disabilities, it is also said that there are actual effects on the brain.
Scientifically, it is said that disrupted sleep rhythms can hinder the development of the serotonergic system in the brainstem. Additionally, a study on the relationship between academic performance and sleep habits in high school students reported that children who went to bed later and slept less tended to have poorer grades.
Case study ①: 7-year-old boy
He wanted to change, but had no motivation to do anything, which was causing him distress. His homeroom teacher had pointed out that he was sleeping in class more often. His intelligence test results were normal. There were no abnormalities in other developmental disorder tests.
After the interview, it was determined that the cause was insufficient sleep due to using games and smartphones at night. He also said, "Mom and Dad use their phones at night, so why can't I?" I suggested setting a time to ensure he gets enough sleep, communicating his feelings to his family, creating a conducive environment, and refraining from playing games or watching TV for 30 minutes before bed.
Case study ②: 7-year-old girl
She went to bed early but had difficulty falling asleep, and both she and her mother consulted a doctor due to increased parenting stress.
Through the interview, I learned that they were very enthusiastic parents when it came to their child's learning and sleep.
What became clear during the interview was that by forcing the child to sleep, the child felt pressured, thinking, "I have to sleep...", which caused stress. This stress was potentially causing their inability to fall asleep. Additionally, they were watching videos in a dark environment using a projector.
While it's certainly important to go to bed early, I suggested that the parents avoid stressing too much and create a relaxing environment before bedtime, without watching videos. It seems things gradually improved. This was a case that reminded me of the importance of creating a reassuring environment.
Summary
It may be common knowledge that sleep is important for a child's growth. It's important to remember that it can lead not only to lost learning opportunities and reduced concentration but also to effects on the brain.
However, if parents get too stressed about ensuring enough sleep, that stress can be transmitted to the child, which in turn might make it harder for the child to fall asleep.
I believe it would be beneficial for both parents and children to maintain peace of mind and regulate the child's sleep.
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Thank you, teacher!