I’m confident that most parents want to see their children live a healthy lifestyle. It’s probably the number one priority in most homes. However, how each family’s view of health can be drastically different from the next. Does health mean a visit to the gym each day? Or, purposeful meal planning to include a complete balance of vitamins, minerals, and organic options? What about habits that include downtime for rest and recovery?
Health and wellness can mean a lot of things and can include various components to consider, from food choices, physical activity, and even sleep habits. For my family, we try to look at the health of our family from a wellness point of view. Not only what we eat or how we move our bodies each day, but also trying to find a balance where resting our bodies and minds is just as important.
In this month’s featured articles, “The Big 3 for Healthy Kids: Nutrition, Movement, and Rest” and “Short on Sleep: The Silent Sleep Crisis Affecting Kids”, both authors remind us about the importance of creating a healthier family by way of nutrition and exercise. However, the need to include rest, and specifically the amount of sleep your children are getting, can contribute to their overall health and wellness. Lack of sleep and an inconsistent bedtime routine can lead to poorer academics, emotional instability, and more illnesses. Sleep is when the body and mind rest and restore, and prepare for the next day. If children and teens are unable to get their much-needed sleep, the body can wear down and become less productive.
The author gives some great research on how much sleep is needed throughout different stages of development, and also some tips to help create better sleep routines for each family member. One tip (that we are all aware of, but need a reminder) is to limit screen time in the evenings and especially at lights out. The blue lights can interfere with our minds ‘ ability to shut off and then cause a disruption of the sleep schedule. Another tip shared is get them moving. Moving the body each day will create a natural need to rest. Exercise, like a group sport or evening family walk, will reinforce getting the much-needed proper rest and sleep.
For my family, all of my children require different amounts of sleep, and it has always been that way, even as toddlers. One daughter seems to need a good night’s rest to recharge her daily social battery, whereas the other daughter requires naps a few afternoons and even quiet time just in her room before bed. Without these sleep routines, both of them would crash midweek. Determining what the perfect amount of sleep for your children is depends on a lot of factors, but finding out what is best for each one and then creating sleep habits that work is important to overall physical and mental health, school success, and emotional wellness.
Having healthy children is my daily prayer and a priority as their mom. Finding a healthy balance of nutrition, physical activity, and rest can be a challenge, especially as they get older and add more to their weekly calendars. But consistency and encouragement are key. From one parent to another, let’s make rest and sleep a top health priority and maybe even grab ourselves a quick mom nap too.
