Develop and improve products. List of Partners vendors. An observed characteristic of gifted children is their need for less sleep than other children. Here are some suggestions to try:. You can try all of them all at once or just some of them, but whatever you choose to do, give it some time to work before switching gears. Most parents can tell when their child is tired since tired children tend to get cranky when they haven't had enough sleep.
If your child is getting less than the recommended amount of sleep, is cranky, has circles under their eyes, has headaches and is having trouble concentrating, they are probably not getting enough sleep. However, if your child is healthy and functioning well, they probably just need less sleep than the average recommended amount. Don't automatically assume your child needs less sleep, either. Some gifted children may actually need more, not less, sleep than other children.
Get diet and wellness tips to help your kids stay healthy and happy. Association between sleep duration and intelligence scores in healthy children. Dev Psychol. Associations between children's intelligence and academic achievement: the role of sleep. J Sleep Res. Mull A. The Atlantic. I Found the Key to the Kingdom of Sleep. Though complying with the demands of daily life might make it more difficult to explore, creative solutions to their unique situations may be your best option.
It is culturally expected that people fall asleep due to a lack of sensory stimulation. Lights are turned down, sounds are shut off, and eyes are closed. While this may lull the mind of an average person into dreamland, this absence of stimulation can actually kick the mind of a gifted person into overdrive. It is possible for them to lie there, for hours, and not ever reach the state of sound sleep, at all. This phenomenon has been noted by many gifted individuals.
The most popular notion regarding the wonders which can be unleashed within the mind of a gifted person during periods which are supposed to be dedicated to full sleep was presented by Albert Einstein. Einstein noted that his best ideas came to him while in the twilight zone — which is that state of being in between wake and deep sleep — and he would often induce that non-REM state of mind when seeking inspiration.
He also compensated for the lack of deep sleep by taking frequent, daytime, naps. Our gifted little ones may be aware, on some level, that this is their experience with attempting to sleep. Particularly when the directive to sleep is set according to a parental schedule, the gifted child may become distressed by the inability to comply. They may be finding that they are not able to shut their brains down, and obtain genuine rest, until many hours after the directive for sleep time has been issued.
Employing the standard techniques for reaching sleep — such as through mindfulness and relaxation techniques — is exactly contrary to the problem of their minds being persistently overactive. Rather than expecting your gifted to do the impossible — and shut his or her mind down on demand — consider allowing some sensory stimulation at bedtime.
For some gifted children, allowing them to watch familiar television shows — which they have already fully memorized — may be the sleeping potion. Others become sleepy while reading, or while engaging in a simple video game.
Darkness causes an increase in the release of the body's sleep hormone - the biological "stop" button. You can align your child's sleepiness with bedtime by dimming the lights during the hour before bedtime. Exposing your child to morning light is pushing the "go" button in her brain - one that says, "Time to wake up and be active. Develop a consistent bedtime routine. Routines create security.
A consistent, peaceful bedtime routine allows your child to transition from the motion of the day to the tranquil state of sleep. An organized routine helps you coordinate the specifics: bath, pajamas, tooth-brushing. It helps you to function on auto-pilot at the time when you are most tired and least creative. Create a cozy sleep environment. Where your child sleeps can be a key to quality sleep. Make certain the mattress is comfortable, the blankets are warm, the room temperature is right, pajamas are comfy, and the bedroom is welcoming.
Provide the right nutrition. Foods can affect energy level and sleepiness. Carbohydrates can have a calming effect on the body, while foods high in protein or sugar generate alertness, particularly when eaten alone. A few ideas for pre-bed snacks are: whole-wheat toast and cheese, bagel and peanut butter, oatmeal with bananas, or yogurt and low-sugar granola.
Vitamin deficiencies due to unhealthy food choices can affect a child's sleep. Provide your child with a daily assortment of healthy foods. Help your child to be healthy and fit. Many children don't get enough daily physical activity.
Too much TV watching and a lack of activity prevents good sleep. Children who get ample daily exercise fall asleep more quickly, sleep better, stay asleep longer, and wake up feeling refreshed.
Avoid activity in the hour before bedtime though, since exercise is stimulating - They'll be jumping on the bed instead of sleeping in it! Teach your child how to relax. Many children get in bed but aren't sure what to do when they get there! It can help to follow a soothing pre-bed routine that creates sleepiness. A good pre-bed ritual is story time. A child who is listening to a parent read a book or tell a tale will tend to lie still and listen.
This quiet stillness allows him to become sleepy. Work with these eight ideas and you'll see improvements in your child's sleep, and yours too. Checkout these other gifted children questions. Early signs of giftedness. How to maintain and grow the giftedness in children.
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