Research Around the World

Early Childhood Australia (ECA) is the website that sparked an interest for me due to many of my friends over the years have studied abroad there as well as have professionally lived in Australia. 

While browsing the site I came across many of the same points of interest for advocating, health and wellness as well as school transitions. The ECA focused on sleep as a separate entity of importance. The resources available where highly informative on anything and everything a parent may want to know about their child and their child’s sleep habits. Sleepwalking, length of time a child should sleep, bedtime rituals and other common issues are discussed at length (Early Childhood Australia, n.d.).

Sleep is important for children when I child sleeps they are able to rest and allow for the necessary connections to be made in their brain. A child who is well rested is also commonly in a better mood as well as more highly engaged in the activities with better focus. Being able to ensure children get their proper uninterrupted sleep at night as well as in the rest times designated throughout the day is important. ECA also points out the time to comfort is a bonding time for the child and the parent/provider (Early Childhood Australia, n.d.). Being able to reduce anxiety for a child when it is time to go to sleep creates the ability for the child to have reduced anxiety and also be healthier (Early Childhood Australia, n.d.). Educating the parents on the importance of sleep could allow for the child's time in the classroom to be more enjoyable. 

Early Childhood Australia.  (n.d.). Sleeping. Retrieved from http://www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au/parent-resources/sleeping/