Hi, the importance of sleep and rest cross references to eymp3. When and why tries to show the difference between sleep and rest, how each is important, not a substitute for the other, it helps to recognise that children do not need constant stimulation, physical activity throughout the day and that quieter times enable rest - buggy rides, book sharing, rug/blanket fairies with ceiling/sky gazing - good for dentist chair awareness!, large floor cushions, softer lay, roll and relax areas
it also provides a way to see how settings support their parents/carers with following the routines that the children/child has at home.
Rest occurs after degrees or levels of activty
exert - physical whole body & intellectual/emotional/cognitive, if feeling unwell, recovering from illness, after mealtimes. Why would be for recuperation and recovery, self analysis, reflection or possibly as a precursor for sleep.
Sleep is a requirement for healthy brain function, a time where scientists feel experiences embed, each of us is quite different in need, when to sleep can be guided by routines, quantity & levels of engagement in exercise, the onset, duration, recovery time of illness/surgery and physical indications, cues or signs of tiredness:
Babies suck or chews fist, fingers, thumb or finds other comforter
Wanting to be closer to someone - cuddles or hugs
Finds places to rest thier head on.
Eye rubbing, ear rubbing, hair twisting
Yawning
Be irritable and/or whiny, whinging
Be quick to temper - tantrums maybe for 'toddlers'
Lack of interest, concentration
What is sleep from BBC
Early support programme's Sleep booklet for parents is a good read
Diet and how much sleep
Sleep from rcpsych
Times when children sleep or nap through the day may have
attachment theory implications that involves people the child trusts, transitional/comforting items and the closeness of a familiar person during sleep / when they wake.
Hth
CYPOP1 4.5 Explain when and why babies and young children require rest
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