Child Study Paper

Child Development Article Review

Melissa Hennessy October 3, 2011

Sleep and Adjustment in Preschool Children: Sleep Diary Reports by Mothers Relate to Behavior Reports by Teachers

Bates, E. John, Viken, J. Richard, Alexander, B. Douglas, Beyers, Jennifer, and Stockton, Lesley (2002). Sleep and Adjustment in Preschool Children: Sleep Diary Reports by Mothers Relate to Behavior Reports by Teachers. The Society for Research in Child Development Inc, January/ February 2002, Volume 73. Number 1, p.62-74.

This article is about studying children’s sleep patterns to see if sleep disorders may be a direct correlation to behavior problems within children. Could sleep issues be the cause for such issues like ADHD and other behavior related illnesses including psychiatric disorders? According to John Bates, Richard Viken, Douglas Alexander, Jennifer Beyers, and Lesley Stockton, there are many behavior related disorders that could be related to how much sleep a child receives, along with the age and quality of sleep. Many parents who have children with behavior related issues are realizing that the quality of sleep may be directly related. There may be many factors that can be discussed and taken into consideration, including environmental factors, developmental factors, income of families, and genetic inheritance as well. There are many types of sleep disturbances that need to be looked at since many young children experience different forms of sleep disturbances such as, night waking, sleep walking, resistance to bed time routine, delay, and trouble falling asleep. Survey showed that 42% of 12 -35 month olds had problematic bedtime resistance, and 35% of all others have night waking issues. (Bates, E. Bates et all p.62) Sleeping disorders in the young child can have a negative impact on the brain, inadequate amounts of sleep can cause a child not to perform up to their potential, resulting with stress.

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Stress causes a number of issues within the child, such as overworking brain functions, misfiring of neurons, and stress hormones being over produced. Then the effects of daily day to day functions are disrupted within the child causing poor concentration and incapability’s in daily routines. Three main issues to think about when understanding child sleep disorders is that 1. Insomnia in the young child may forecast psychological disorders. 2. Sleep is not well understood in the young child but can be thought of as social and biological. 3. Relations to environment, genetic inheritance, developmental factors all need to be considered. 4. Sleep issues in the young child can have a negative impact on social, emotional, cognitive and physical development. 5. Age and quality amounts of sleep are factors that need to be considered when studying sleep disturbances in young children.

This article touches on many different aspects on how sleep issues can develop into very serious conditions in children. Good healthy sleep patterns are key to a healthy child and if the child is experience irregularities in sleep then the parents or care giver should look into what maybe causing the disturbances. If that child experiences this continuously then that caregiver should really look more into the underlying issues with a medical professional. Sleep disturbances can be related to a multitude of developmental problems. Parents, teachers and caregivers should be aware of signs and symptoms of lack of sleep and try to monitor or regulate good sleep habits. Good sleep habits in a child can be so positive and so beneficial. It’s important for parents and caregivers to know they are not alone when trying to combat sleep issues in the young child, many children go through stages of mild sleep disturbances.