In preschool and elementary school, children who do not get enough sleep will have difficulty focusing and react slowly in the learning and playing process. At the same time, children will also have a weakened immune system and are more prone to illness.
Differences between children who go to bed early and those who stay up late
Going to bed early will form better sleeping habits
Many parents believe that the longer children stay awake and play, the more physical energy they expend. As a result, they will fall asleep more easily than usual.
However, a study has shown that the later children sleep, the longer it takes for them to be ready to fall asleep. On the other hand, children who sleep before 9 pm are easier to establish a sleep routine and can fall asleep quickly. They also have fewer tossing and turning and have a deeper sleep.
Going to bed early is good for height and brain development
During the early stages of a child’s development, growth hormones play a vital role and only appear when the child is sleeping. Therefore, the earlier a child goes to bed, the more it ensures that these hormones can be fully produced, contributing to the process of promoting height and brain development of the child.
Getting enough sleep leads to better health and vitality
According to Parents, children’s learning and absorption abilities are enhanced when they have quality sleep. This helps children develop comprehensively, become healthier, and avoid the risk of various seemingly unrelated diseases such as overweight, obesity, or Alzheimer’s disease.
On the other hand, children who stay up late are more likely to suffer from frequent colds and minor illnesses. The reason is that during deep sleep, the body produces various chemicals, including cytokine proteins, mainly used to prevent infection and disease.
Lack of sleep will affect the amount of cytokines, and the immune system’s resistance will decrease, making it prone to infectious and cold-related diseases. Parents should ensure adequate sleep for the child to allow the body to rest fully, promote repair and regeneration of various systems in the body.
Staying up late is harmful to the heart
In adults, lack of sleep can make us feel tired, weak, and irritable. Young children also experience similar effects when they do not get enough sleep for an extended period. They will become overly stressed, more excited, and uncomfortable.
When the mood changes excessively, this condition increases blood pressure, accelerates heart rate and respiration, and poses a risk of cardiovascular disease if it persists for a long time.
Increased risk of obesity in children who stay up late
Fat cells produce leptin when you eat too much, which signals the brain to stop eating. However, lack of sleep will increase ghrelin, inhibit leptin, and can lead to obesity if children do not get enough sleep.
At the same time, while children who go to bed early have enough energy and alertness to be active, play, and exercise all day, those who lack rest will always feel tired and lethargic. This further increases the risk of overweight, making the body increasingly unhealthy, weak, slow-growing, and prone to diseases.
It can be seen that the habit of going to bed early not only helps the brain function faster and enhance memory but also impacts physical health. The harm of staying up late for children is significant. Therefore, parents need to establish the habit of going to bed early and waking up early for their children.
To make it easier for children to fall asleep, parents should prepare a quiet and comfortable environment. You can turn on a dim night light or turn it off completely, provide a spacious and well-ventilated space, avoid stuffiness and heat that hinder the child’s sleep process.
Especially, do not let your child use electronic devices such as TV, mobile phones, or computers before bedtime as they stimulate the brain. This can create addiction, develop bad habits, and also affect the quality of sleep.