During the day we use up so much energy thinking at school, playing in breaks, eating, taking lessons after school and by the end of the day, our bodies are like a car that has nearly run out of petrol. They are tired and ready to stop.
Explaining the importance of sleep to your child
Once they know the effect it has on their body and mind, they may start to appreciate it.
Explain that sleep helps our bodies stay healthy and fight sickness. The body needs sleep so our bones and muscles can grow. Our bodies are repairing any injures that happen during the day while we sleep.
Sleep is vital for the brain so we can remember things, concentrate, learn, solve problems and come up with brilliant ideas.
We go to sleep and fill up on petrol so we are ready and full of energy for a new day of activity.
During the day, it is light and this is the time to be awake. Sunlight lets our brains know that it is time to wake up but when the day turns to night, our brain makes a chemical melatonin which makes us sleepy.
We need it to be dark to sleep. A dim nightlight is fine, but as we need to keep the room as dark as possible so we get the best sleep.
If you can’t get to sleep, you can try lying on your back and breathing in and out slowly and deeply. Close your eyes and say, ‘I am relaxed, I am relaxed, I am relaxed’. You could even count sheep slowly. Imagine you can see sheep jumping over a fence and see how many you can count as each one jumps over a fence.
Here is a great relaxation to read to your child to help them sleep.
The Robot (Featured in Quiet Spaces and the Wishing Star)
Close your eyes, be very still and imagine that you are a robot. Your whole body is made of metal. The lights on your arms and legs and stomach are flashing brightly. The robot also makes all sorts of beeping and bleeping noises. It is a very noisy robot.
Now you are going to see if you can switch the robot off and make every part of your body completely still. Start with your right leg – bring all your attention to your right leg and turn off the switch. Your right leg becomes totally still.
Repeat with your left leg.
Our top Sleep Products
Relax & Sleep MP3 – Guided visualisations for a restful sleep. Relax Kids have been putting millions of children to sleep for twenty years and we have compiled all our best sleep tracks in one audio to help guide your child into a restful and relaxing sleep.
Quiet Spaces MP3/CD – Our #1 selling Relax Kids album is a family favourite. This album is full of deep body relaxations which help children feel calm and quiet naturally. This album is designed to relax children while introducing them to simple stress-management and mindfulness techniques. Ps. Don’t buy unless you are ready for a good night’s sleep.
Better Sleep Pack – The Better Sleep Pack helps prepare your child for happy restful sleep. It is full of exercises to help them feel more calm and comfortable. Activities help create good sleeping habits whilst educating the importance of sleep.
Wishing you a good night’s sleep!
