Keep a Sleep Diary

Use the Building Blocks Sleep Diary (PDF) to help point out the importance of sleep and to solve sleeping problems. Track your child’s sleep habits throughout the week. At the end of the week, talk about what you’ve found out:

1. Let’s look at the Sleep Diary from last week. What day did you sleep the fewest number of hours? How did you feel that day?
2. What day did you sleep the most hours? How many hours did you sleep? How did you feel that day?
3. How many hours do you think you should sleep each night to feel your best? That’s your “magic sleep number.”
4. What are three things we can do to make sure you get enough sleep each night?

The next week, work on ways to help your child reach the “magic sleep number” each night.

Use the Sleep Diary again. Compare. Did your child sleep better? Longer? Feel better each day?

Related Article: Monitoring Your Child's Sleep

Quiz for Parents: Children and Sleep Quiz