Is your child having a rough time recovering from the Daylight Saving Time change? If you’ve been noticing more behavioral problems or tantrums in the home than usual, you’re not alone! Scientists have found that there is a strong relationship between sleep habits and behavioral health problems. When kids don’t get enough rest, it can lead to challenging behaviors, such as:
- overreacting
- impatience and trouble waiting
- being less cooperative
- whining
- falling asleep during the day
- having more meltdowns or tantrums over seemingly small situations
“Sleep is so important to a child’s well-being because it influences how they manage stress and regulate their emotions,” says Emily Weitz, children’s mental health expert. “As a parent myself, I understand how challenging it is to help your child when they’re overly tired. Understanding and addressing behaviors when your kid is overly tired with compassion not only nurtures your child’s rest but also adds to the supportive home environment you are creating.”
Because sleep and behavior are closely linked, you might be wondering if your approach to parenting should change when your child is overtired. According to the On Our Sleeves experts, the answer is “Yes!” They’ve shared some tips on how to practice positive parenting while being mindful of your child’s fatigue.
Provide support. When children are tired, they might have less patience and will need more support. If this is a tough time, try helping your child with their homework or doing a calming activity together, like doing a puzzle or coloring. Avoid engaging in activities you know will get them excitable, like video games.
Start wind-down time earlier. If you start your bedtime routine about a half hour earlier, this can help some kids decompress. You can try starting bath time earlier than usual, reading extra books together before bed, or, if your child is older, encouraging them to relax in bed and read on their own. Try to find ways for them to catch-up on sleep, even if it means saying “no” to other activities and events. You can share with them, “I can tell you are needing more sleep. We are going to move our family movie night to tomorrow so that we can catch up on sleep. This is not a punishment, but just a way to help you be healthier.”
Stay calm and respond, don’t react. While it can be tempting to get upset during a tantrum, try to encourage a calm-down period instead. Instead of saying “Stop crying and get over it!” or giving in to what they want, try saying: “I can see you are upset right now. It is not OK to yell and scream. I am going to ask you to take a deep breath and try to calm your body down. Then we will be able to talk about your feelings.” Once they are able to calm down, offer them compliments and encouragement for their efforts. You can say, “I like the way you were able to calm your body down. Now we can talk about our next steps.”
Remain consistent with boundaries. If you ask your child to do something and they push back, it’s easy to want to just let it go. But staying consistent is really important for their growth. Try saying something like, “I get that you don’t feel like cleaning up your toys, but it’s something we have to do. If you don’t, then you won’t be able to play with them after school tomorrow.”
Focus on self-care. When your child is tired, it can be exhausting for parents, as well. After putting your child to bed, give yourself permission to relax and unwind. Watch your comfort show or movie, read a book or take a bubble bath.
If your child is experiencing ongoing sleep disturbance or long-term issues with sleep, consider reaching out to your pediatrician. There might be an underlying health condition contributing to their lack of sleep.
Discover More On Our Sleeves Resources
On Our Sleeves is diving deeper into each of these four keys to emotional wellbeing on our blog throughout the month of May. Access more related resources, from videos and free downloads to conversation starters by visiting childrensdayton.org/onoursleeves today.
