If your kids are struggling to fall asleep at night, it could be down to the conditions in their bedrooms. Help your kids sleep better by making a few subtle changes, suggested by the National Sleep Foundation — best of all, you can benefit from these same techniques.
Make the Room Dark
Light sends a signal to the body to wake up by suppressing the production of melatonin, a hormone that induces sleep, meaning it can be difficult to stay asleep when there is any type of light in the bedroom. To make it easier for your kids to sleep, block all artificial light from electronics (including power buttons) and consider hanging blackout curtains to mask light from the street and morning sunlight.
Turn Off Electronics
If your kids are going to fall asleep at bedtime, they need to break the habit of using electronics at night. This includes televisions, computers, video games, cellphones, and tablets. Tell your kids to turn off electronics at least one hour before going to bed to give their bodies time to recover from the alerting effects produced by the blue light of screens. Kids looking for a nighttime activity are much better off reading a book.
Design Your Kids’ Rooms for Better Sleep
Change the design and feel of your kids’ bedrooms to create a relaxing environment that encourages sleep:
- Remove all clutter. Keeping bedrooms clean, tidy, and organized reduces the sense of restlessness at bedtime.
- Rearrange furniture. Ask for your kids’ input to create a layout that feels comfortable to them.
- Keep bedrooms free from distractions. Move the computer and TV into another room.
- Try a fresh coat of paint in a warm, calming tone. Choose colors according to what your kids find soothing.
Remember, exposure to a moderate amount of sunlight is vital to help us maintain a healthy sleep pattern. Expose yourself and the kids to a healthy dose of sunlight throughout the day, but do so in moderation and with protection, such as the Real Kids sunglasses.
After a good night’s sleep, your kids are up and ready to be active. For all outdoor activities, children need to wear protective shades that will keep their eyes safe from sunlight and injury. Real Kids provides the best kids sports sunglasses on the market, with 100 percent UV protection and polycarbonate frames. Check them out in our online store.