www.womanthismonth.com September 2021 57 LIFESTYLE | opinion 4- Add One Sleep Item to the Back-to-School Shopping List Add one sleep-related item to the back-to-school shopping list; it can really help children understand the importance of sleep as they head back into the classroom. A conversation about how getting a good night's sleep is vital for school success, combined with a shopping trip for a new pillowcase or comforter, can really help children see sleep as a priority and give them something to look forward to using at bedtime. 6- Enact A Media Curfew At least an hour before bedtime, screen time should come to an end, and other, more relaxing, activities can begin. 7- Remember: It's Never Too Late for Good Sleep Habits Specialists see the age of three as the ideal time to start reinforcing the importance of sleep for a child's health, but older kids and even mom and dad can reverse bad bedtime habits if the whole family buys in. Parents will have to actively participate in making bedtime fun, enjoyable, and tears free. This may be the season to tweak your own sleep habits too, mama. Here's to a wellrested September. 3- Let Them Do Their Own Bedtime Math Instead of just telling kids when they need to go to bed, involve them in figuring out an appropriate bedtime. Before you raise your eyebrow, let me explain further… Have your children check online for how much sleep they need depending on their age, and figure out together when the child can go to bed and when they can wake up. Use those math skills. 5- Provide An Environment Conducive to Sleep When our kids are infants, we're really good at setting up rooms that can help them sleep. But as our children age out of cribs and start to accumulate many possessions and playthings, their rooms can become a less ideal sleeping environment. Sleep specialists recommend removing stimulating toys from the child's room, or storing them in another area of the house, and never putting televisions, tablets or smartphones in a child's room.
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