Children’s daily lives can be exhausting! Every day, they are surrounded by stimuli; new learning, people, places, sights, sounds, concerts, fixtures, in school clubs, out of school clubs, parties, after school and weekend sports sessions – the list goes on. And that’s without mentioning the highly visually stimulating online games and activities that many children play.
All of this is happening alongside each child’s brain and body growing and developing, so the need for children to have proper rest and ‘down-time’ is vital.
Whilst physical rest is important, mental rest is as equally vital. Rest is crucial for children's physical, cognitive, and emotional development, supporting growth, consolidating memories, and boosting the immune system.
Ensuring that children to have time in the evenings, at the weekend and during the holidays to rest, enables them to unwind physically and emotionally, allowing them to be physically and mentally healthier and more energised for the following days.
Resting doesn’t specifically mean sleep. It can also mean children having quiet, calm time without any pressure to be ‘doing something’. For some children this could be reading, playing with Lego, kicking a ball around in the garden on their own.
However, good quality sleep is also important. The Sleep Charity UK, recommends that, as a general rule, children aged between 7- and 12-years old need 10 to 11 hours of sleep a day.
When children are resting or sleeping, their brain is still actively working, helping them process information from the day. This is also the time when the brain stores old memories, so a good night’s sleep is vital for this processing to occur. In school, children who sleep well and have regular rest, generally have a better attention span and are better able to function during the day, consequently helping their learning.
Visit The Sleep Charity UK to find out more about the importance of sleep.
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