I'm interested in the book and taking part in the blog about Sleepless in America. I just finished my dissertation in August after 7 years of working full-time, teaching as an adjunct, and going to school all at the same time. I thought now I would finally learn how to sleep all over again, but instead, I'm still getting up through the middle of the night, and I know it's always affected my daughter and my husband. Our sleeping patterns have been out of whack for a long time. I know that we need more sleep, but it never fails, our good intentions of going to bed at a decent hour always turns into 10 pm. My daughter has always been hard to get to sleep as long as one of us is up, and so obviously it impacts her greatly. Since birth, Carleigh has never been a good sleeper, and I truly believe my sleep patterns have rubbed off on her. If we both aren't asleep no later than 10:30, watch out for our attitudes for a few days! ha ha So, yes, I definitely believe there's a link between the lack of rest and sleep to misbehavior.
Chandra - thanks so much for sharing! The great thing about this particular book is that she shares information that will benefit both adults and children. You are not alone in your sleep struggles! I talk to parents all of the time who are worn out from dealing with bedtime battles and morning madness. So often parents accept this as though it is something that is out of their control and that they will just have to live with! The good news is that it is within our control to change our family's sleep habits if we are willing to make it a priority.
Yes, I feel like this book has been very helpful to me as a teacher and a parent. I made connections with this with my preschool child. When he doesn't go to bed at his normal time because of family events, etc., he has a hard time at school the next day. I try to be as consistant as possible with bedtime because I want to set him up for a successful day.
I am a big believer in this book and what she is saying about lack of sleep and a child's misbehavior, I know first hand. My son Landon, age 5, came later to me than my other two sons who are 20 and 18. I'll admit that I let him get away with more than the other two, because he was an unexpected surprise and my last baby. Landon started kindergarten this year and most days he was on yellow or red light and I was about to pull my hair out from all the bad reports. I punished him when he got on red by spanking him and sending him to his room, nothing helped. It wasn't until my 9 week parent teacher conference when his teacher, Candi McCullough, gave me a copy of the book, "Sleepless in America" and decided right then and there to give it a try (I've tried everything else, why not?). The first night I put Landon to bed at 7:30pm, based on his age group and the amount of sleep his age need, he got up a couple of times but was fast asleep by 8:00pm! We started 7 school days ago, and Landon has been on green light everyday! So, yes it does work. What else do you have to lose?
I have two daughters. One is in first grade (Breyanna) the other is in kindergarten (Sydney). Breyanna has gotten a few yellows here and there and Sydney has had quite a few along with a couple of reds. So you are not alone Diane. I understood that sleep was important, but like you didn't really make the connection with the lack of sleep and behavior problems until I got that sleep info sheet from the school. I had been thinking that maybe my getting married again this past June and us moving to a new place were the problem. I had also been in a violent marriage before and eventhough they were babies was wondering if it had affected them. Although both of these may play a part in my particular situation, I know that sleep is one of the biggest parts. Like Chandra, I had been working full time, going to school, and participating in other activities. I had wonderful parents that helped with the girls while I was a single parent for a while. We always had something going on with family, church, or for school so we were not getting enough sleep. After I received that info from the school, even before we got the book, I immediately started making the girls go to bed earlier. I had thought that because they didn't want to go to sleep that they just didn't need as much sleep. At the same time though, I could tell when they starting laughing hysterically that they were just extremely tired. After they started going to bed earlier, I noticed a great difference. Breyanna has had a few weeks where she has gotten all greens and Sydney has had up to four greens. Not bad for a school week. All of our attitudes are also better at home since we've been getting more rest. Thanks for the info and the book FVES.
Wow! I love that the success stories are already starting to come in! It's exciting when you are able to see firsthand that improvements in sleep result in improvements in behavior! We all have to take it one day at a time as we try our best to consistently make sleep a top priority! I'm so glad that you have all found the book to be helpful thus far!
This is so exciting! I applaud each of you for being willing to share your experiences with us. This is what Shannon and I envisioned when we came up with this idea:) You are helping other people more than you know!
I am very excited to see the success stories as well! I am reading the book myself and learning new things daily! :) I am very proud of all the parents that are giving this book a try! It has reminded me how important sleep is and the stress it puts on a family when a child or parent isn't sleeping! Thank you FVES for helping all of us! :)
I think this is true, I see so many kids who can not stay awake during class or misbehave in class from staying up all night watching tv or playing video games. Beatrina
I can't wait to start reading this book. I definitely think there is a link between sleep and behavior. As an adult, I know how I feel when I have not had much sleep. Imagine how a child feels! I hope to gain a lot of insight from the book as well as from the posts.
After reading half of this book, I am beginning to see that there is definitely a link between behavior and sleep (my own as well as my children's). About 2 weeks ago I cam to eat lunch with Wesley. He is usually fine when I leave but this particular day he started crying. This is very unusal for him. I wound up checking him out. He went home and went right to sleep on the couch. He had no fever so I didn't hink he was sick. After thinking about our week I realized that he was way off of his normal routine. Slepp reqally does make a difference.
I'm interested in the book and taking part in the blog about Sleepless
ReplyDeletein America. I just finished my dissertation in August after 7 years of working full-time, teaching as an adjunct, and going to school all at the same time. I thought now I would finally learn how to sleep all over again, but instead, I'm still getting up through the middle of the night, and I know it's always affected my daughter and my husband. Our sleeping patterns have been out of whack for a long time. I know that we need more sleep, but it never fails, our good intentions of going to bed at a decent hour always turns into 10 pm. My daughter has always been hard to get to sleep as long as one of us is up, and so obviously it impacts her greatly. Since birth, Carleigh has never been a good sleeper, and I truly believe my sleep patterns have rubbed off on her. If we both aren't asleep no later than 10:30, watch out for our attitudes for a few days! ha ha So, yes, I definitely believe there's a link between the lack of rest and sleep to misbehavior.
Chandra - thanks so much for sharing! The great thing about this particular book is that she shares information that will benefit both adults and children. You are not alone in your sleep struggles! I talk to parents all of the time who are worn out from dealing with bedtime battles and morning madness. So often parents accept this as though it is something that is out of their control and that they will just have to live with! The good news is that it is within our control to change our family's sleep habits if we are willing to make it a priority.
ReplyDeleteYes, I feel like this book has been very helpful to me as a teacher and a parent. I made connections with this with my preschool child. When he doesn't go to bed at his normal time because of family events, etc., he has a hard time at school the next day. I try to be as consistant as possible with bedtime because I want to set him up for a successful day.
ReplyDeleteI am a big believer in this book and what she is saying about lack of sleep and a child's misbehavior, I know first hand.
ReplyDeleteMy son Landon, age 5, came later to me than my other two sons who are 20 and 18.
I'll admit that I let him get away with more than the other two, because he was an unexpected surprise and my last baby.
Landon started kindergarten this year and most days he was on yellow or red light and I was about to pull my hair out from all the bad reports. I punished him when he got on red by spanking him and sending him to his room, nothing helped.
It wasn't until my 9 week parent teacher conference when his teacher, Candi McCullough, gave me a copy of the book, "Sleepless in America" and decided right then and there to give it a try (I've tried everything else, why not?). The first night I put Landon to bed at 7:30pm, based on his age group and the amount of sleep his age need, he got up a couple of times but was fast asleep by 8:00pm!
We started 7 school days ago, and Landon has been on green light everyday!
So, yes it does work. What else do you have to lose?
I have two daughters. One is in first grade (Breyanna) the other is in kindergarten (Sydney). Breyanna has gotten a few yellows here and there and Sydney has had quite a few along with a couple of reds. So you are not alone Diane. I understood that sleep was important, but like you didn't really make the connection with the lack of sleep and behavior problems until I got that sleep info sheet from the school. I had been thinking that maybe my getting married again this past June and us moving to a new place were the problem. I had also been in a violent marriage before and eventhough they were babies was wondering if it had affected them. Although both of these may play a part in my particular situation, I know that sleep is one of the biggest parts. Like Chandra, I had been working full time, going to school, and participating in other activities. I had wonderful parents that helped with the girls while I was a single parent for a while. We always had something going on with family, church, or for school so we were not getting enough sleep. After I received that info from the school, even before we got the book, I immediately started making the girls go to bed earlier. I had thought that because they didn't want to go to sleep that they just didn't need as much sleep. At the same time though, I could tell when they starting laughing hysterically that they were just extremely tired. After they started going to bed earlier, I noticed a great difference. Breyanna has had a few weeks where she has gotten all greens and Sydney has had up to four greens. Not bad for a school week. All of our attitudes are also better at home since we've been getting more rest. Thanks for the info and the book FVES.
ReplyDeleteWow! I love that the success stories are already starting to come in! It's exciting when you are able to see firsthand that improvements in sleep result in improvements in behavior! We all have to take it one day at a time as we try our best to consistently make sleep a top priority! I'm so glad that you have all found the book to be helpful thus far!
ReplyDeleteThis is so exciting! I applaud each of you for being willing to share your experiences with us. This is what Shannon and I envisioned when we came up with this idea:) You are helping other people more than you know!
ReplyDeleteI am very excited to see the success stories as well! I am reading the book myself and learning new things daily! :) I am very proud of all the parents that are giving this book a try! It has reminded me how important sleep is and the stress it puts on a family when a child or parent isn't sleeping! Thank you FVES for helping all of us! :)
ReplyDeleteI think this is true, I see so many kids who can not stay awake during class or misbehave in class from staying up all night watching tv or playing video games.
ReplyDeleteBeatrina
I can't wait to start reading this book. I definitely think there is a link between sleep and behavior. As an adult, I know how I feel when I have not had much sleep. Imagine how a child feels! I hope to gain a lot of insight from the book as well as from the posts.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading half of this book, I am beginning to see that there is definitely a link between behavior and sleep (my own as well as my children's). About 2 weeks ago I cam to eat lunch with Wesley. He is usually fine when I leave but this particular day he started crying. This is very unusal for him. I wound up checking him out. He went home and went right to sleep on the couch. He had no fever so I didn't hink he was sick. After thinking about our week I realized that he was way off of his normal routine. Slepp reqally does make a difference.
ReplyDeleteI believe there is certainly a link between these two things.
ReplyDelete