During a well check, I ask some basic questions about several different areas of life to try and figure out where we need to focus our time:
- Is your kid doing ok in school?
- Are they brushing their teeth?
- Do they have friends (Are they developing socially?)
- Do they eat at least some vegetables?
- Do they sleep ok at night?
I feel like over just my short 5 years of practice, the question regarding sleep has become more and more of a problem. There have always been a few people that have pathologic sleep problems that need professional help. But now "basic" sleep hygeine does not seem to be basic anymore.
Here is a great article from healthchildren.org with a great reminder of the little things you can do to help improve your child (or your own) sleep.
Sleep and Mental Health