Napping is highly recommended for children several times in the day and reducing as they grow. Many studies show that there are many good things associated with napping. For example, afternoon rests contribute to a child’s behavior, helps a child to learn better, sleep better at the night, and have a good memory. However, sometimes naptime can be quite the battle for kids who are energetic, or for afternoons where the little ones may feel like they are missing out. One way to make it enjoyable for parents and children is to create a conducive environment by creating silence and dulling up the room. Also, silence can turn into a nap, if this does not happen, you can let the little one spend time in silence or read a book to have some rest and recharge. Read on to see why napping may be beneficial to your little one.
1. Cognitive and Brain Development
Studies have shown that a child who naps and sleeps longer nights is likely to have more vocabulary and can have an easier time joining pre-school. Additionally, afternoon naps have benefits, such as improved emotional stability, improved memory, better learning, as well as better task performance. In the studies, kids who were not habitual nappers had a challenge with emotional stability. What this means is that they were very annoyed when things don’t favor them, and they were not too excited with a positive outcome. Concentration was also an issue as they would get bored and tired quickly.
2. Naps help kids stay fit
Many studies have shown that a child who doesn’t get sufficient rest, or get irregular sleep, tends to have a higher chance of being obese? Also, kids who don’t sleep enough are likely to eat more food. They are also likely to crave foods that are not healthy. Plus, the lack of enough sleep can cause anxiety and restlessness. Thus, they might end up getting comfort from overeating. Therefore, when a child gets to nap, they then have the energy to play, stay fit, and eat better during meal times. Ample rest could also help keep the kids stay fit and healthy since they have the will to run around after a good rest. You can make the child’s room cozy after checking the Casper mattress review for comfortable resting mattress.
3. Naps affect a child’s mood
A napping toddler is a happy child and a joyful mom in the long run. Many studies show that toddlers who skip their afternoon naps grow up into moody and grumpier adults. When your little one skips naps, they are likely to have meltdowns and throw tantrums. They are irritable because they are too tired and overwhelmed. However, you can avoid this by putting the little one down for an afternoon nap. A child’s lack of sleep not only affects their mood but that of the caregiver as well. Remember that you will also have some downtime to catch up on chores, or just rest or nap as well.
4. Regular Naps will help your kids sleep better at night
Habitual naps for children are essential not only for good days but for good nights too. Many parents believe their child is likely to sleep quicker and better at night without an afternoon nap. However, when your child is overly tired, they become more anxious, irritable, and stressed. They may also get into trouble more because of bad behavior. More often, they will become more energetic, making it harder to fall asleep quickly at bedtime. Until they are older, after the age of five you can do away with afternoon naps.
To sum up, not all children will agree to nap every day. It also depends on the activity levels, as children are different. If you have tried, and all your efforts are not working, you can replace naps with some quiet time. Additionally, you can have your little one read a book or get them involved in less energetic or calm activities. However, this is not the time to watch TV or use gadgets, as these could activate their little brains. Also, you can take a child to bed earlier in the evening so that they can get enough hours to rest.