Chilld Insomnia

A common misconception is that only adults can suffer from insomnia. This is not true at all because there is such a thing called child insomnia. Yes, there are children who do suffer insomnia.

To determine whether or not your child is suffering from insomnia, then you should look for the following symptoms: mood swings, irritability, depressed mood, memory problems, hyperactivity, aggression, and decreased attention span. If your child exhibits one or more of these symptoms, then he or she just might be insomniac.

With adults, it is almost close to impossible to determine the cause of insomnia. This is because there are certain factors contributing to the condition in adults. But with children, there is almost always a specific cause. In addition, this cause is, more often than not, lack of sleep. Watching too much TV, staying up late for homework and projects, playing video games and such, these are the common reasons why a child does not get enough sleep. Adults need eight full hours of sleep each day. However, with children, it is a different story. Between the ages of 6 and 12, children would need at least 10 hours of sleep. Teenagers, on the other hand, need at least 9 hours of sleep. With the rigors of schoolwork, plus TV and video games, it would be hard for any child to get the recommended number of hours of sleep.

Thus, there is a need to change the sleeping habits of children. Bedtime should be set at a more realistic timeframe. Schoolwork and projects should be prioritized earlier, so that the child would have more time for rest. As for video games and television, children can do during school nights without these things. As a parent, you can make a weekend schedule for television and video games.

Aside from these, you can also teach your children relaxation techniques. Visual imagery is a common technique being taught today. Lying down and just imagining things and whatever comes to mind can help relax your child’s brain. Stretching exercises also help prepare the child’s body for rest. However, be sure to do simple exercises. Doing stimulating exercises can also disrupt bedtime for kids.

If doing this still will not improve the condition of child insomnia, there just might be a need to see a doctor now. What is important here is not to resort to any form of medication without the prescription of a licensed counselor or physician.