Sleep Problems Could Be Sign of Stress
By Lisa Malkiewicz
Grown-ups love to think of childhood as a carefree time of life. In reality children have stressors that can cause difficulty falling asleep, restless waking and nightmares. Of course we all recognize some events as definite stress causes: Parents divorcing or death of a family member. But parents getting back together after a separation is highly stressful for a child as well. So is a parent re-marrying or becoming pregnant.Any troublesome relationships in the family can create stress for everyone. If parents are having trouble with one child it could very well be stressful for the “good” child as well.
The stress of moving homes is widely recognized even for kids. But smaller moves such as changing schools or even changing teachers can be a source of stress.
Having trouble at school is stressful, as you would expect, but so is an outstanding personal achievement or recognition.
Watch out for overloaded schedules. Too many after school activities such as dance, sports or music lessons, can be putting pressure on your child without them or you realizing it.
In short, if your child is having sleep problems, scout around for possible stressful events that you may not have recognized at first. You know the old saying, knowing the problem is half the solution.
Lisa Malkiewicz is the creator of the Sleep Fairy, an award-winning relaxation CD that helps kids fall asleep easily.