Napping is very important for babies, as we have seen in some studies and research, in addition to giving them the rest they need during their first years of lifeIt helps them retain what they have learned during the day.
Although taking naps is beneficial at any age, we tend to think that it is only important and necessary for babies. However, a recent study found that Children aged nine to twelve also benefit from their development by taking naps. We tell you why.
Published in the magazine Sleep, the study was conducted with the objective of analyzing the impact it would have to take naps during the day, in the development and cognitive, psychological, metabolic and behavioral performance in preadolescent children aged nine to twelve years.
In Babies and more, does your child still sleep? Seven benefits of napping in childrenAs we know, the lack of quality rest can have short and long term consequences in various aspects of the health of children and adolescents. Therefore, they decided to investigate whether naps during the day could help reduce these negative effects on them and benefit their physical and emotional health.
To conduct the study, nap habits during the day of 3,819 children between nine and twelve years old were analyzed old. Behavioral and academic evaluations made by their teachers were taken into account, as well as certain psychological measures reported by the children themselves, such as self-control and happiness.
Similarly, IQ tests were conducted in one of the subgroups that participated in the study, and metabolic indices were taken into account such as body mass index (BMI) and glucose concentration through physical exams.
It was analyzed the association between naps and the results of each evaluation, adjusting it according to age, sex, academic grade, school location, parent education and bedtime at night.
In general, it was found that taking naps was significantly related to a greater happiness and self-controlas well as a reduction of behavioral problems, greater verbal IQ and better academic performance.
In Babies and more Sleeping naps reduces children's hyperactivity and anxietyThe researchers conclude that taking regular naps provides various benefits to children and adolescents, including better cognition, better psychological well-being and a reduction of emotional and behavioral problems.
