Lack of sleep in children

Lack of sleep in children is problematic precisely because healthy and sufficient sleep is essential for the growth and diverse developmental processes of children. It manifests itself in children through similar symptoms as in adults. The lack of concentration causes problems at school, while persistent fatigue can impair social contacts.

A lack of sleep becomes a threat in children when they are no longer aware of the dangers of road traffic, for example on the way to school, due to fatigue. In addition, it has been found that children with sleep deprivation are more prone to conspicuous behavior such as hyperactivity syndromes or social behavior disorders. In addition, a clear connection between sleep deprivation and overweight in children was identified.

But what exactly is long enough and what is too little? This question cannot be answered in a generalized way, since every child has different needs. Nevertheless, some approximate guidelines can be formulated: For example, babies should get at least 13 hours of sleep in their first year of life, while 11-12 hours are considered appropriate for kindergarten children.

Primary school children, on the other hand, should get about 10 hours and children and adolescents between 11 and 15 years of age about 9 hours. For parents of school children, it is a good idea to observe exactly how long the child sleeps at the weekend in order to determine the child’s natural sleep requirements. This information then provides an orientation for the optimal time for the child to go to bed during the week.

If the child suffers from particular difficulties in falling asleep, it is a sensible measure to encourage the child to do sports or physical exercise in general. More and more often, however, children are already showing signs of depressive episodes, which can cause the lack of sleep, especially by hindering them from falling asleep. In these cases, the help of a child and adolescent psychologist should be sought.