New research conducted by Murdoch Childrens Research Institute
shows sleep may help with children's transition into primary
school.
The study, which was published online today in Pediatrics, found
child sleep problems were rapidly reduced for students who were
given a behavioural sleep intervention, and had sustained
improvements in their sleep habits. The study also found students
had markedly improved behaviour, psychological development and
improved social skills, which researchers say all contribute to
school readiness.
Students with moderate to severe sleep problems were recruited
in Grade prep from 22 primary schools across Melbourne, and half
were given a brief, behavioural sleep intervention program
involving one face-to-face session and a 15-minute phone call two
weeks later. It focused on helping parents create a 'sleep
management plan' to improve their child's sleep.
The study found sleep problems resolved more rapidly in the
intervention children, and at six months sleeping problems had
fallen to 25.5% in the intervention group, compared with 46.8% in
the control children. Interestingly, contrary to other studies,
sleep did not improve academic ability or learning.
Lead author, Doctor Jon Quach from Murdoch Childrens Research
Institute, said the study showed obvious benefits and that sleep
could help with children's school readiness.
"Improvements in children's behaviour and social interaction
suggest the intervention may be favourable for the transition to
formal schooling because these areas contribute to school
readiness," he said.
"This targeted intervention has shown to reduce the prevalence
and impact of sleep problems, but now needs to be replicated in a
broader community setting to evaluate the programs longer term
outcomes."
Poor transition into school has been shown to have a significant
negative effect on a child, with respect to their overall school
achievement, completion rates, and social and emotional
development.
This is the first study to examine the benefits of delivering a
sleep intervention to children identified by screening for child
sleep problems.