Kids may not be able to communicate when they’re sleepy, or perhaps can’t even identify this. Then there’s always the fear of missing out on things going on in the waking world.
Biology, psychology and environment can all influence a child’s sleep patterns.
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One in four children will experience sleep problems before their 10th birthday. Here are the top factors, plus steps parents can take to give their kids (and themselves) a good night’s sleep.
Does our body “switch off” when we sleep?
Mami Kempe / The Conversation
The most interesting part of our body that changes during sleep is our brain.
We know that lots of animals, maybe all animals, sleep. Cats, dogs, even worms and jellyfish sleep. But we still don’t know exactly why they started sleeping.
Marcella Cheng/The Conversation
Pond snails use things like rocks or the side of their aquarium as their bed, attaching themselves while they sleep. This might not seem very relaxing but their shells do hang away from their body.
Cars are often warm and comfortable and we are usually feeling safe and relaxed.
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You might be trying to catch up on sleep. Sleep scientists say some children need only nine hours of sleep at night, while others need as much as 11 hours. It depends on the person.
Dreams are like a forest walkway: there’s no clear sense of direction and you can easily get lost.
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Have you ever arrived in a hotel room after a long flight and despite being exhausted, failed to fall asleep? This is called the first-night effect and we may have understood why it occurs.