I want to thank everyone for being willing to read Sleepless in America and blog with us about it! I became extremely interested in the topic of sleep 7 years ago when my oldest child was born. I realized very quickly that I was going to need to have a plan to get my children to sleep well so that I could get the sleep I wanted and needed. I began researching and experimenting with different strategies. I have found that an early bedtime is definitely an important key for my children. Through the years I have been amazed at how the lack of sleep changes my children's behavior as well as my own. In my children I have seen whining, aggression and what I will call "meltdown madness" when they haven't gotten enough sleep. Likewise, when I am overly tired I become less patient, more easily frustrated and I have difficulty concentrating. These negative consequences have a definite impact on school performance. In order to be successful in school, children need to be able to concentrate and manage their behavior. This is a huge challenge for overly tired children. I believe in the information in this book and refer to it regularly as I continue to improve the sleep habits of my family. I hope that you will be willing to share your thoughts,opinions, successes and/or failures with us as we support each other on our quest for more sleep!
I have always loved sleep! My mother always says my dad's family was 'sleepy headed'. I was shocked when my son, Nicholas was born. The kid almost NEVER slept! (At age 10, I am proud to report that he sleeps:) I have also been amazed at how the lack of sleep affected my behavior as well as my children. After reading this book earlier this year, I wished I had this book in 1999. Knowing that I could not turn back the hands of time, I decided to move bedtime back in our household. I was amazed to find out that my children needed more sleep! Mrs. Stubbs and I began discussing children's school behavior. Our discussions resulted in this interactive blog series. I hope you will learn and be willing to share with us!
Thanks for taking the time to look into this important issue and for giving us the opportunity to participate. I have a background in scientific research and in education and really appreciate this information being passed along. I like sleep too and I know that it helps to boost your immune system as well. It gives your body the rest it needs so that all your systems can be rejuvenated for the next day. I know that it helps with being alert and being able to focus. I know that our family doesn't get as much sleep as we should. I commute about an hour to and from work each day and we attend some games and other activities that take time away from getting other tasks done. We are probably about and hour to an hour and a half off from where we need to be but we are working on getting more sleep into our daily routine.
Getting enough sleep is important to me and my children because it affects how we feel and act. I notice a big difference in myself when I do not get enough sleep. I am ill and I do not have as much patience with my children. My children also get ill and fight more. My three year old will not take a nap anymore during the day. It has been frustrating because he seems to be in a bad mood all the time and doesn't eat as well. I know it is because he stays tired all the time.
Ashley - I had the same problem when my daughter was three. Instead of fighting with her to try to force the nap, I just moved her bedtime to 6 p.m. Alot of people thought I was crazy but it absolutely worked like a charm! I was able to do that consistently because I was a stay-at-home mom then. Since I could spend plenty of quality time with her during the day - I didn't feel guilty about putting her to bed so early at night. My husband was also able to spend some time with her before and after work when he wasn't coaching a sport so it worked out nicely for us. Honestly, we really didn't have a choice because she would lose her mind and become "possessed" if she didn't get to bed early enough! In fact, there were many nights that she went to sleep at 5:30 p.m. because she just needed her sleep so badly. She would go right to sleep and stay asleep until 6 or 6:30 a.m. We just had to accept that we couldn't go places and participate in activities that caused her to go to bed late because we all paid too high a price if we did! I know that it would be difficult for alot of people to be able to get their children in bed that early due to work and/or other obligations. However, I do think it's important to strive for as early a bed time as possible. Children are usually ready for sleep so much earlier than we think they are!
I am glad that you are addressing this probelm. As an educator of middle school students we see that negative impact of children that do not get enough sleep. When we ask some of our children what time they go to sleep they tell us that they stay up pretty late playing video games or on the computer with my space and facebook. In our house our children go to sleep every night at 8:00 and our little one still gets up grumpy. It is becoming more difficult to keep to the 8:00 schedule as they get older and homework and extracurricular activities increase.
I am very interested in the topic of sleep, especially since I haven't slept for 11 years! That is when my first child was born. None of my children sleep. They all quit napping at age 2. Emma is 4 and if she takes a nap she will be up until midnight (just like she was earlier in the week). I have read most of chapter 1 and I have found it interesting. My kids do fit some of the criteria. I am looking forward to a slow weekend so I can catch up on my reading.
Very interesting! I have bought the book for my daughter to read along with me - I have a "non-sleeper" granddaughter. There is no doubt a corelation with sleep and an overactive mind. All I have to do is think of my "to do" list when I go to bed and will certainly not get a good night's sleep. Or if I work on my "to do" list right up to bedtime it doesn't work either! Children need the same calm and down time as adults. We can all get over-busy, and over-scheduled in our fast-paced, do-more society, and our sleep will be the first to suffer. I laughed last night as I read my "old" WHY book to my grandson. It stated that children need 11 - 13 hours of sleep per day!! PS - I refuse to give the copyright on that one!
I am with Vicke...I know that I need sleep, but with the hectic schedule I have, I tend to leave that off of my important list! I find myself working up until time to go to sleep and then I do not sleep for worry of what is and is not completed. I am fascinated by the first few chapters and look forward to making connections with my sleep patterns and the sleep patterns of my students.
I want to thank everyone for being willing to read Sleepless in America and blog with us about it! I became extremely interested in the topic of sleep 7 years ago when my oldest child was born. I realized very quickly that I was going to need to have a plan to get my children to sleep well so that I could get the sleep I wanted and needed. I began researching and experimenting with different strategies. I have found that an early bedtime is definitely an important key for my children. Through the years I have been amazed at how the lack of sleep changes my children's behavior as well as my own. In my children I have seen whining, aggression and what I will call "meltdown madness" when they haven't gotten enough sleep. Likewise, when I am overly tired I become less patient, more easily frustrated and I have difficulty concentrating. These negative consequences have a definite impact on school performance. In order to be successful in school, children need to be able to concentrate and manage their behavior. This is a huge challenge for overly tired children. I believe in the information in this book and refer to it regularly as I continue to improve the sleep habits of my family. I hope that you will be willing to share your thoughts,opinions, successes and/or failures with us as we support each other on our quest for more sleep!
ReplyDeleteI have always loved sleep! My mother always says my dad's family was 'sleepy headed'. I was shocked when my son, Nicholas was born. The kid almost NEVER slept! (At age 10, I am proud to report that he sleeps:)
ReplyDeleteI have also been amazed at how the lack of sleep affected my behavior as well as my children. After reading this book earlier this year, I wished I had this book in 1999. Knowing that I could not turn back the hands of time, I decided to move bedtime back in our household. I was amazed to find out that my children needed more sleep!
Mrs. Stubbs and I began discussing children's school behavior. Our discussions resulted in this interactive blog series. I hope you will learn and be willing to share with us!
Thanks for taking the time to look into this important issue and for giving us the opportunity to participate. I have a background in scientific research and in education and really appreciate this information being passed along. I like sleep too and I know that it helps to boost your immune system as well. It gives your body the rest it needs so that all your systems can be rejuvenated for the next day. I know that it helps with being alert and being able to focus. I know that our family doesn't get as much sleep as we should. I commute about an hour to and from work each day and we attend some games and other activities that take time away from getting other tasks done. We are probably about and hour to an hour and a half off from where we need to be but we are working on getting more sleep into our daily routine.
ReplyDeleteGetting enough sleep is important to me and my children because it affects how we feel and act. I notice a big difference in myself when I do not get enough sleep. I am ill and I do not have as much patience with my children. My children also get ill and fight more. My three year old will not take a nap anymore during the day. It has been frustrating because he seems to be in a bad mood all the time and doesn't eat as well. I know it is because he stays tired all the time.
ReplyDeleteAshley - I had the same problem when my daughter was three. Instead of fighting with her to try to force the nap, I just moved her bedtime to 6 p.m. Alot of people thought I was crazy but it absolutely worked like a charm! I was able to do that consistently because I was a stay-at-home mom then. Since I could spend plenty of quality time with her during the day - I didn't feel guilty about putting her to bed so early at night. My husband was also able to spend some time with her before and after work when he wasn't coaching a sport so it worked out nicely for us. Honestly, we really didn't have a choice because she would lose her mind and become "possessed" if she didn't get to bed early enough! In fact, there were many nights that she went to sleep at 5:30 p.m. because she just needed her sleep so badly. She would go right to sleep and stay asleep until 6 or 6:30 a.m. We just had to accept that we couldn't go places and participate in activities that caused her to go to bed late because we all paid too high a price if we did! I know that it would be difficult for alot of people to be able to get their children in bed that early due to work and/or other obligations. However, I do think it's important to strive for as early a bed time as possible. Children are usually ready for sleep so much earlier than we think they are!
ReplyDeleteMrs. Stubbs - I agree, my goal is to get him in the bed as soon as I can. It will be easier now that baseball is over.
ReplyDeleteI am glad that you are addressing this probelm. As an educator of middle school students we see that negative impact of children that do not get enough sleep. When we ask some of our children what time they go to sleep they tell us that they stay up pretty late playing video games or on the computer with my space and facebook.
ReplyDeleteIn our house our children go to sleep every night at 8:00 and our little one still gets up grumpy. It is becoming more difficult to keep to the 8:00 schedule as they get older and homework and extracurricular activities increase.
I am very interested in the topic of sleep, especially since I haven't slept for 11 years! That is when my first child was born. None of my children sleep. They all quit napping at age 2. Emma is 4 and if she takes a nap she will be up until midnight (just like she was earlier in the week). I have read most of chapter 1 and I have found it interesting. My kids do fit some of the criteria. I am looking forward to a slow weekend so I can catch up on my reading.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting! I have bought the book for my daughter to read along with me - I have a "non-sleeper" granddaughter. There is no doubt a corelation with sleep and an overactive mind. All I have to do is think of my "to do" list when I go to bed and will certainly not get a good night's sleep. Or if I work on my "to do" list right up to bedtime it doesn't work either! Children need the same calm and down time as adults. We can all get over-busy, and over-scheduled in our fast-paced, do-more society, and our sleep will be the first to suffer. I laughed last night as I read my "old" WHY book to my grandson. It stated that children need 11 - 13 hours of sleep per day!! PS - I refuse to give the copyright on that one!
ReplyDeleteI am with Vicke...I know that I need sleep, but with the hectic schedule I have, I tend to leave that off of my important list! I find myself working up until time to go to sleep and then I do not sleep for worry of what is and is not completed. I am fascinated by the first few chapters and look forward to making connections with my sleep patterns and the sleep patterns of my students.
ReplyDelete