The Benefits of Rest for Your Child

Throughout the summer, your child will probably be running around in the sun, playing sports, and burning up a sweat. And while all of these activities are great for your child’s physical development, you’ll also want to make sure your child is getting enough rest as well. Here are some benefits of rest for your child.

Body Recovery

Getting a good night’s sleep is essential for your child. Whether it’s in the summertime and they’ve spent all day playing outside or even a long day at school — aiming for at least 8 hours of sleep (depending on age) is crucial to gain the benefits of rest. In fact, Johns Hopkins Medicine notes that kids ages 3-5 should get 10-13 hours of sleep, while ages 6-12 get 9-12 hours and ages 13-18 get 8-10 hours of sleep. 

Getting enough sleep is important for physical recovery, especially if your child is involved in sports. Throughout the night, your body goes through different stages of sleep, including light (REM) sleep and deep (non-REM) sleep. Deep sleep is where most of the bodily recovery takes place. 

According to KidsHealth, deep sleep “makes up 75 percent of our sleep.” It is also the stage where “muscle blood supply is increased, energy is restored, and essential hormones for growth and development are released.”

Improved Mental Health and Focus

Have you ever noticed if your child wakes up groggy, cranky, and/or remains out-of-focus for the day? Chances are they aren’t experiencing the full mental benefits of rest at night.

Ensuring your child gets enough sleep at night can actually prove wonders for their mental health. Sleep allows for your child’s mind to recharge, and has been linked to improved focus and concentration. Just think: if your child was to go to school on 2 hours of sleep as opposed to 10, chances are their cognitive functions would not work on a higher level throughout the day.

Increased memory and reaction times have also been linked to good sleep. On top of that, your child’s mood also comes into play — as they will be happier and more energized for productivity once they are well-rested.

Other Benefits of Rest

With a good night’s sleep, your child will also experience other benefits of rest — including hormone release. Throughout sleep, your body will release chemicals like cortisol, DHEA, and growth hormone.

When cortisol is released, it “helps you stay focused, energetic, and alert,” according to BDMS Wellness Clinic. Furthermore, cortisol “also breaks down glucose, amino acids, and protein which causes your body to age faster.”

Similarly, both DHEA and growth hormone help keep one youthful. DHEA is “a very important anti-stress hormone that helps combat stress, burns fat and safeguard your immune system,” while growth hormone “helps to maintain normal body structure and metabolism, including helping to keep blood glucose levels within set levels” and acts as an anti-aging chemical.

Preparing for a Camp Stay at Oasis

For all the fun that day camp provides, it’s important that children get enough sleep afterwards to recharge and recover. Experiencing the benefits of rest the night before a camp stay is crucial.

Here at Oasis, we offer a number of activities from sports to technology — which challenge your child both physically and mentally. To learn more about our services, please visit our website and get in contact today. We’re more than happy to help!