Create A Safe Sleeping Environment in Childcare

baby children and technology sleep Oct 25, 2018

by editorial team

 

Creating a healthy, safe sleeping environment is an important part of childcare and adult self-care. However, it's becoming difficult to create.

Technology may be affecting our sleep patterns. Since technology use has increased over the years, creating a healthy safe place to sleep has become a challenge.

30% of pre-school children and 50-90% of school-aged children are getting insufficient sleep.

According to researchers at Penn State, this is partially due to the widespread use of screen-based media around bedtime.

The U.S. Center for Disease Control has found that: 

1 in 3 adults don't get enough sleep

If you are a parent or a preschool teacher dealing with naptime or nighttime struggles, check out these tips for creating a safe sleeping environment in childcare or at home.

 

Benefits of Creating a Safe Sleeping Environment in Childcare

Electronic devices emit blue light which shuts down the production of the sleep hormone melatonin. If children or adults check their phone or watch TV right before bed, they may have a harder time dozing off.

In addition, using electronic devices before bedtime can make children and adults feel stressed.

For example, anxiously awaiting messages from friends may keep children and adults awake. They may feel they will miss something if they fall asleep. Children could also be reminded about stressful events at school and stay up feeling anxious.

The biggest benefit of creating a safe, tech-free sleep environment is preventing the problems that may arise from the lack of sufficient sleep.

Researchers at Penn State warn parents that if an adolescent is exhibiting behavioral problems or experiencing mood swings, insufficient sleep might be to blame.

Focusing on school work and extracurriculars may become harder with less sleep. In addition, your child may become irritable and anxious even if things are going well.

 

How to Create a Tech-free Sleep Environment for Your Child

1. Set strict technology rules

“No devices in bed” is a good rule of thumb to start with. If you or your child has a TV in their bedroom, consider moving it to a family area instead.

You could also limit the use of screen-based devices an hour or two before bedtime.

2. Talk to your children about the effects of technology

Having strict rules can be counterproductive if your children don’t understand why they exist.

Talk to children about the possible harmful effects of technology. Consider asking thought-provoking questions, such as "why do you want to bring your device to bed?"

If children understand the potential effects, they may be less likely to try to sneak devices into their bedroom or stay awake from anxiety.

3. Follow your own rules

The potentially harmful effects of technology in bed are not limited to children. They may affect adults, too.

Following your own rules may cause your child to respect the rules. In addition, you may create a better sleep environment for yourself as well.

 

Final Thoughts

Creating a safe sleeping environment in childcare means ensuring that your child’s bedtime routine remains tech-free.

If you would like to learn more about how technology may affect our health, check out our Ultimate 21 Day Digital Detox program.

It will help you understand the effects of technology on your children and give you the tips and support you need to live with technology in a healthy, balanced way.

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Ruan Living simplifies a nontoxic lifestyle through its Practical Nontoxic Living podcast, free detox workshops, online D-Tox Academy, and transformative 40-Day Home Detox. It aims to help you avoid toxic chemicals, heavy metals, and electromagnetic fields (EMFs) from what you buy, own, and do— without compromising your joy and convenience. Ruan was founded by Sophia Ruan Gushée, author of the bestselling critically acclaimed book A to Z of D-Toxing: The Ultimate Guide to Reducing Your Toxic Exposures and several detox workbooks. A graduate of Brown University and Columbia Business School, Sophia has served on the Brown University School of Public Health Advisory Council and Well+Good Council. A popular nontoxic living speaker, consultant, and teacher, Sophia lives in New York City with her husband and three daughters. Her passion for empowering others to enjoy nontoxic living began with the birth of her first daughter in 2007. Everything she creates is a love letter to her children and for the healthiest, brightest future possible. You can learn more here: Sophia’s Impact.

Disclaimer

This article is for informational purposes only. This information is provided “as is” without warranty.

It is not, nor is it intended to be, a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment and should never be relied upon for specific medical advice. We do not offer medical advice, course of treatment, diagnosis, or any other opinion on your conditions or treatment options. To the extent that this article features the advice of physicians or medical practitioners, the views expressed are the views of the cited expert and do not necessarily represent the views of Ruan Living.

In no event will Sophia Ruan Gushee or Ruan Living be liable for any damages or loss of any kind resulting from the use of this website. Anyone relying upon or making use of the information on this website does so at his or her own risk.

Some of the services and products recommended on this website provide compensation to Sophia Ruan Gushee or Ruan Living. All recommendations are based foremost upon an honest belief that the product, service, or site will benefit our site visitors in some way.  

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