Gemma Farrar of Little Dreams Consulting introduces the ‘Better Sleep for Children’ programme to local schools for World Sleep Day!
World Sleep Day is happening this Friday 17 March and what better way to celebrate than helping everyone get more sleep?
The theme for World Sleep Day this year is ‘sleep is essential for health’, but how exactly?
It looks after your emotional and mental wellbeing
Sleep and mood are closely connected; poor or inadequate sleep can cause irritability and stress.
It keeps sickness at bay
Sleep benefits your immune system as it gives your body the time it needs to rest and repair when you are sick. Adequate sleep supports your immune system to detect and destroy foreign invaders your body might come into everyday contact with. It also helps these cells to remember these invaders, so if you come across the same bugs and germs again, you’re prepared to fight them off.
It helps you maintain a healthy weight
Being sleep-deprived could also increase your appetite, as it changes the level of hormones that signal hunger and fullness in your body. Getting enough sleep could help you to maintain a healthy weight.
It makes memories
Sleep converts your short-term memories into long-term memories. Adequate sleep each day is very important for learning and memory.
It reduces your stress levels
A good night’s sleep can have an ‘anti-stress’ effect and relax the systems in your body that are responsible for this stress response.
So, what is the ‘Better Sleep for Children’ program?
According to The Sleep Charity UK, 40% of children suffer with sleep problems. In children and young people, poor sleep patterns adversely affect learning and cognitive ability which means they often fail to meet their full potential in school.
A study of school aged children in 2017 found that an hours’ less sleep over three nights can impair academic performance at school by two years. The results showed that in children who were able to sleep for 1 extra hour per night, over three nights, memory tests increased by 57%, their attention and focus improved by 44% and their problem-solving ability by 66%.
With sleep deprivation also being linked to obesity and an increased risk of daytime behavioural problems, the importance of good quality sleep now forms part of the Relationships Education, Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) and Health Education Statutory Guidance.
Better Sleep for Children was piloted in January 2023 across the five schools of the Moorland Federation in Somerset after Head of School, Alison Blackmore, reached out to Little Dreams. “Sleep is such a fundamental element of a child’s well-being and ability to concentrate and stay focused in their learning and play. We wanted to offer parents support and advice from experts on how to help improve their child’s sleep routines and habits to ensure the children were fulfilling their potential in school”.
Rosy, a parent of a pupil within the federation, added, “A huge thank you to Little Dreams Consulting for delivering such an interesting webinar. As a parent of two children aged 5 and 10, it was incredibly useful to learn more about how much sleep they really need and what positive steps we can put into place to enable better sleep for them (and us!)”.
Naomi Philp, Executive head teacher of the federation, said, “Little Dreams ws so professional to work with and really worked through how to create a programme to support our parents and also to upskill all of us as staff too.
“Sleep and bedtimes can be tricky times and yet are so critical for child development, so, this was important support, advice and guidance to offer our families. We are proud of the team work with Little Dreams and look forward to running something annually in the future”.
To find out more about how your local school can get involved with the ‘Better Sleep for Children’ programme, either as part of #worldsleepday or as part of the wider RSE curriculum, please contact Gemma at Little Dreams Bath and Swindon directly to find out more.