The day affects the night. A school trip, a substitute teacher, an argument or bullying at school, fear of failure, busyness/overstimulation, tension at home and excessive screen use are examples of daily matters that can disrupt sleep. Teachers deal with the problems arising from these matters far more often than you might initially think. When a student displays difficult behavior, sleep deprivation or poor-quality sleep is usually not considered.
As part of the care team, the Sleep Exercise Therapist takes a multidimensional approach to sleep problems. Biological, psychological, social and vulnerability factors influence the child and their sleep. Every child is unique, and their personality, (high) sensitivity, processing of stimuli, bodily awareness and resilience are elements that the sleep exercise therapist takes into account and provides tools for.
The Sleep Exercise Therapist always involves the parents, school and other people directly involved in the process toward better sleep. If it proves necessary for multiple disciplines to contribute ideas and work together to resolve the sleep problems, the Sleep Exercise Therapist works in a multidisciplinary way. These may include an educational psychologist, a psychologist, a general practitioner or pediatrician, a speech therapist, a haptotherapist, et cetera.
The sleep exercise therapist does not only explain theoretically what the reasons or causes of a child's poor sleep may be; they also explain what can practically be done about it through behavior. This is an important ingredient of Sleep Exercise Therapy.
The child, teacher and parents all receive practical tools for dealing adequately with (problematic) behavior, relaxing, quieting the mind, being pleasantly aware of the body, focusing on positive things that promote sleep, and reframing dysfunctional thoughts into helpful thoughts. In other words, regaining control over both body and brain for the benefit of sufficient night's rest.
What can teachers and parents do to increase the chances of a healthy night's sleep? This might include creating moments of relaxation at school, processing the day well before the child goes to sleep, winding down in the evening in good time, limiting screen use and stimuli, and establishing desired habits so that the bedtime routine, sleep times and sleep behavior support sleep.
The importance of a healthy night's sleep for children is considerable. Healthy sleep habits learned at a young age specifically reduce the risk of sleep problems during puberty and later in life. So here the saying certainly applies: “what is learned young is practiced old”.
That is why Sleep Exercise Therapy and Glos Educatief are working on the development of an intervention focused on rest and sleep for primary education. For secondary education, there is the teaching package Charge Your Brainzzz www.chargeyourbrainzzz.nl
Further information and addresses of Child Sleep Exercise Therapists: www.slaapoefentherapie.nl