Children With Sleep Problems More Likely to Have Issues at School

A new study found that one in three children have continuous sleeping problems between birth and age five, putting them at greater risk of attention deficit disorder and emotional and behavioural issues at school.

Researchers from the Queensland University of Technology analysed 2,800 children born in 2004 until they reached six to seven years of age.

Mothers were asked to report if their children experienced any sleep problems as well as any emotional and attention problems from birth to age five. They also asked teachers to report on children’s emotional and social adjustment at school.

It was found that children who were able to soothe themselves back to sleep from an early age tended to have an easier time adjusting to school compared to children with sleep problems.

Dr Kate Williams from QUT’s Faculty of Education said that 70 per cent of children are regulating their sleep, but it may be detrimental to the remaining third developmentally over time.

She said children characterised as having escalating sleep problems in early childhood were associated with higher teacher-reported hyperactivity, emotional outbursts and poorer classroom self-regulation.

“Parents can withdraw some habits, like lying with children over and over, letting them into their bed, it’s really important to give children a sense of skill so they can do these things themselves,” she said.

Dr Williams said sleep intervention strategies are extremely effective.

The study, which was published in the British Journal of Educational Psychology, builds on previous QUT research linking mandatory day time naps in child care centres to sleep problems later on.

“Sleep problems can be sorted out long before a child reaches school age, provided parents, carers and child care workers are aware and supported,” Dr Williams said.

“Prevention is the key.”