Posted on 11/10/2022
For a child's brain to grow and evolve, not just the length, but the quality of their sleep is crucially important. The prevalence of electronic devices and gadgets in our daily lives is, however, a significant obstacle to achieving this.
Downsides of Screen Time
Screens contribute to sleep deprivation in children considerably by suppressing the production of melatonin, our body's sleep hormone. This light-induced hormone suppression happens irrespective of the content children are viewing on screens, resulting in nocturnal restlessness, attention deficiencies, and mood swings. Experts recommend replacing the 2-3 hours before bedtime - which are traditionally dedicated to screen time - instead with calming activities like reading, solving puzzles, bathing, or playing board games.
Adding to the influence of the light emanating from screens, electronic devices in proximity to children during sleep can expose them to electromagnetic radiation (EMR), which interferes with melatonin release.
Stress Factor
The quality of sleep that children get when they have access to technology at night is not necessarily deep or truly refreshing. They fall victim to the "wired-and-tired" condition, a sleep-deprived state caused by increased stress levels derived from engaging in internet activities or playing games. This heightened visual and cognitive stimulation leads to rises in blood pressure and heart rate, which affects their sleep even hours afterward. The resulting poor sleep which is a byproduct of stressful conditions does not contribute to adequate refreshment upon waking or alertness during the day.
Risks of Screen Addition
Unhealthy late-night screen habits of many young people often contribute toward their overeating and excessive consumption of caffeinated drinks, intensifying hormonal imbalances and overstimulation. Besides sleep disorders, other harmful end results of sleep deprivation include a higher likelihood of mental health problems like anxiety, poor memory, depression, ADHD, and obesity.
Reflecting upon this, the content on your child's nightstand has an enormous influence in determining the restfulness of their sleep, translating to their overall well-being.
Managing Screen Presence
Given the natural inclination of children towards gadgets, the ideal solution to help manage this is to fully remove all screens from their bedrooms, particularly during bedtime. Limiting screen time or removing gadgets may seem as an invitation to endless battles, but the positive long-term effects on your child's sleep will make this struggle worthwhile.
Over a few weeks, expect to notice a more focused, creative, and physically active child. Temporary protests from them are simply a small price to pay for their improved health and happiness.
Introducing Alternatives
In exchange for their tablets or iPods, consider placing a basic alarm clock on their nightstand. If it has a lit face, be sure to turn it away from the bed in order to have it avoid mimicking an unhealthy blue light-emitting screen when checked during the night.
Calming ambient or white noise can be beneficial if your child goes to sleep before others in the house or if you live in a noisy area. Some popular sources of white noise are small fountains, fans, or humidifiers. A bedroom fan can help to maintain an optimal sleep temperature between 60 to 67 degrees, and a humidifier or small fountain can help contribute toward adequate moisture levels during dry winter months.
As a final touch, place a picture of a beloved place, a calming image, souvenirs, or other things your child enjoys on their nightstand. This not only adds to the room decor but is also a good reminder of positive experiences. Additionally, always welcome actual physical paper books to their nightstand, as long as they are wholesome reads and don't incite unnecessary anxiety.
The Bedroom Source
Located near the Roosevelt Field Mall on Long Island, The Bedroom Source is your source for the best collection of children's and teen bedroom furniture. From flexibly configurable Maxtrix furniture to fashionable American-made collections, The Bedroom Source offers high end furniture and professional design assistance to create the bedroom of your child's dreams.
Contact the friendly staff at The Bedroom Source by calling (516) 248-0600 or by submitting our online contact form. We're a local family owned mom & pop store. When you shop with us, you're dealing directly with the owners. We professionally assemble everything we sell. We deliver to Nassau, Suffolk, the 5 Boroughs, Southern Westchester, Southwestern Connecticut & Northern New Jersey.