How does your child feel if they haven’t slept well? Moody? Cranky? Sluggish? Sleep deprivation can affect kids’ ability to control their emotions, impulses, and behavior. It can make symptoms of mental health disorders worse. And most kids and teens aren’t getting the recommended amount of sleep each night.

This week on childmind.org, we round up resources on why kids struggle to get enough sleep and how parents can help. We provide tips on how to choose sleep strategies for infants and improve sleep hygiene for older kids. We also look at factors that make sleep deprivation common among teenagers, and we dive into the physical, mental, and behavioral consequences, especially for those predisposed to mood disorders like depression. Finally, we consider how lack of sleep can lead to a misdiagnosis of ADHD.

– Stephanie Cornwell, Staff Editor | ✉