Sleep Skills

Is your child getting ready to take her first steps? Learning how to color, draw, or write her name? Or is she trying to master a new tumbling move, golf swing, or tennis serve?

No matter what her age or stage of development, chances are she's learning new motor skills. Making sure she's getting enough sleep is one way you can help her master those skills. Research suggests that sleep increases activity in the motor centers of the brain and those areas that are involved in memory consolidation.

Working with your child to develop healthy sleep habits early on will have a positive impact on her alertness, productivity, creativity, and overall health -- all essential factors in learning and development.

Help Your Child Get the Best Sleep Possible

These suggestions may be adapted for an older or younger child, but be aware that what's calming for one child can be stimulating for another, so you may need to experiment a bit.

• Get stuck in a rut. Establish a regular routine. Knowing how the end of the evening unfolds will reduce bedtime battles.
• Fill the belly. A small snack may help quiet a rumbling tummy. Try to offer it about an hour before bedtime.
• Have a soak. A warm bath and massage can be a soothing transition to sleep.
• Set the mood. Create a sleep-friendly environment: dimmed lighting, soft music, favorite sheets.
• Offer a bed buddy. Provide a security item: stuffed animal, special blanket.
• Stick with it. Be consistent, even on weekends.

Also, if a computer, television, and video game system are all located within your child's bedroom, an early bedtime may be the last thing on her mind. Here's what we recommend: Remove the TV, the computer, and the video game system and let the bedroom be a place for sleep -- not recreation.