Sleep is essential for a good daily balance, especially for children. Getting them to bed early is essential, studies have proven this over the past few years:one of them appeared in the journal Pediatrics in 2012 showed that children aged 7 to 11 who went to bed an hour earlier than usual on 5 days a week were more responsive and less irritable at school. And indeed, going to bed early, ideally between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m., would promote the physical and psychological development of toddlers (no wonder), and above all make them smarter and healthier. Factors such as age or even nap times must of course be taken into account, and finding the ideal time for Junior is not easy and requires a few small adjustments.
Science writer Melinda Wenner Moyer, who says she puts her kids to bed at 7:30 p.m., advises Slate to follow the method of pediatrician Marc Weissbluth. “The time at which a child falls asleep is as important, if not more important, than the number of hours slept “, explains the specialist. He suggests that parents engage in an experiment:try to put their child to bed 20 minutes earlier than usual for a few days, and observe what happens. If he/she falls asleep easily, then he/she generally needs to go to bed earlier. For parents who finish work late, it is recommended to prepare the meal in advance so that the children can have dinner quickly after returning home.
The pediatrician's technique is pretty simple to put together, and it costs nothing to try. Come on, let's get started tonight!
