When you’re scheduling your homeschool curriculum, you probably think about math books, science experiments, and book lists. But there’s something that might be even more important.
Sleep.
Sleep is not idle time for your kids. It’s when their brain is busy doing some of its most important work.
For homeschooling families, understanding how sleep affects learning can be the difference between lesson hours filled with tantrums and successful homeschooling days.
Why Sleep Matters in a Homeschool Environment
Homeschool children have their own unique problems when it comes to sleep.
Without the disciplined school bell schedule, it’s easy for bedtimes to creep later and wake-up times to be irregular. But this flexibility can damage your child’s education if sleep gets neglected.
If kids don’t receive adequate sleep, the first thing to suffer is their focus. Chances are, you’ve experienced this for yourself, like after a poor night’s sleep, even the simplest things become more challenging.
For kids, it’s even more serious. Their developing minds require quality sleep to stay awake in school, remember what they’ve learned, and have a cheerful attitude all day long.
Retaining information is another large reason homeschoolers need sleep.
In contrast to regular students who repeatedly review information in well-planned classrooms, homeschooled children tend to learn subjects at a faster pace. This is an added reason why they must remember what they’ve learned initially.
Lack of sleep may also impact the regulation of emotions, and children are more prone to quit when tasks become difficult.
The Science Behind Sleep and Learning
Even though your child is sleeping, their brain is really working.
The brain processes information from short-term to long-term memory during deep sleep. This binds and stores new learning with prior knowledge. In sleep, mental “clutter” built up throughout the day is cleared out, making room for new learning.
Research also shows that children who don’t get enough sleep perform poorly on tests, can’t concentrate, and are less able to solve problems. This same research also found that reducing by one hour a night for a week made sixth-graders perform as badly as fourth-graders on thinking tests.
Modest sleep loss is enough to affect cognitive flexibility and creativity, which are skills highly beneficial in homeschool environments where children need to be able to accommodate different learning styles.
At the end of the day, different ages need different amounts of sleep.
Studies have shown the following:
Schoolchildren (6-12 years) need 9-12 hours nightly.
Middle schoolers (13-15 years) need 9-10 hours,
Teenagers need 8-10 hours.
These aren’t suggestions, but rather requirements for maximum brain growth.
Signs Your Child Isn’t Getting Enough Rest
Check for morning drowsiness, especially during lessons. If your child is yawning, rubbing their eyes, or seems “foggy” at what should be their most alert part of the day, they’re not sleeping enough.
Mood swings are another huge red flag. Sleep-deprived children are cranky or have meltdowns over nothing. If your normally patient child suddenly struggles to handle frustration during lessons, check their sleep schedule first.
Lastly, backsliding academically is another warning sign. If your child seems to be forgetting something they obviously did remember in the past, or is struggling with something that used to be easy, bad sleep might be the culprit.
How to Create a Homeschool-Friendly Sleep Routine
Homeschoolers’ secret to good sleep is routine. Choose wake-up and bedtime routines that work for your family and stick to them every single day, weekends included.
Start winding down at least an hour before bedtime. Turn off screens, dim lights, and switch to calm activities. The blue light from devices can trick the brain into thinking it’s still daytime, making it much harder to fall asleep.
Establish a regular bedtime routine that signals sleep time is near. It may be a warm bath, reading aloud, or calming music. Making sure the routine is repeated every night so that it becomes a habit. Avoid caffeine and large meals close to bedtime since they interfere with sleep.
How to Create a Homeschool-Friendly Sleep Environment
Your child’s bedroom should promote rest, not stimulation.
Keep the room cool (around 65-68 degrees), dark, and quiet. Blackout curtains and white noise machines can also help create ideal sleeping conditions.
If possible, separate the sleep space from play and learning areas. When kids see toys or school supplies in their bedroom, their brain associates the space with activity rather than rest.
Another often overlooked component of your homeschool child’s bedroom and overall sleep environment is their bed and mattress. As we’ve driven home time and time again, quality of sleep is instrumental to a child’s ability to learn.
Thankfully, there are a wide variety of ways to find the perfect mattress for your child. There is always the old-school route of going to a mattress store to try a few options, but we’ve also learned there is the mattress in a box option that provides the option of ordering the perfect mattress for your child right to your house.
Lastly, remove electronic devices from the bedroom and keep the space clutter-free. Clutter in the room creates mental clutter, making it impossible to relax.
Sleep as Academic Preparation for Achievement
Think of sleep as preparation for school, not time to relax.
A rested child brings enhanced focus, enhanced memory, and enhanced attitude to each class. When you sleep well, you’re essentially enriching your entire homeschool course of study.
Make sleep a top priority as a regular part of your family’s daily schedule, next to math or reading time. The dividend on investment you’ll receive for your child’s sleep today will pay them back in their learning, mood, and health for many years to come.