A study has shown that maintaining a regular sleep schedule enhances children’s emotional and behavioral regulation.
On November 8, researchers from Pennsylvania State University published a study in the international journal Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics. Their findings indicate that children who follow a consistent bedtime show better emotional and behavioral regulation.
The research team tracked the sleep and activity patterns of 143 six-year-olds using wrist-worn wearable devices.
Data on the children’s sleep patterns and daily activity were collected over one week, followed by observations of their responses in challenging situations.
The study had two phases. In the first experiment, each child selected a toy, placed it in a clear box, and locked it. Researchers gave the children several keys to open the box, but none worked.
The researchers observed whether the children employed self-regulatory behaviors, such as calmly talking through the task or methodically testing each key, or if they grew frustrated and threw the keys aside. After four minutes, the box was unlocked to allow the children to play with the toy.
In a second experiment, children and their parents decorated picture frames together. Researchers assessed the children for prosocial behaviors like sharing and cooperation and disruptive behaviors, such as damaging decorations or making rude demands.
The findings revealed that children with inconsistent bedtimes showed poorer emotional and behavioral regulation.
For example, children who went to bed within a consistent 20-minute window each night showed better self-regulatory behaviors than those whose bedtimes fluctuated by more than two hours.
The researchers noted, “These findings highlight the crucial role a regular sleep schedule plays in fostering children’s prosocial behaviors and appropriate responses. Parents can positively influence their children’s behavior by setting a structured routine and addressing their children’s needs.”
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