Surprisingly, something as seemingly simple and elemental as sleep can be very complex. We will discuss sleep in more depth in future posts but here are a few simple tips to help parents ensure that children get more of the sleep they need:

• Limit electronic media entertainment before bedtime. Nearly 80 percent of children use television or video viewing as part of their pre-bedtime routine. Sitting still and watching entertainment for half an hour should, theoretically, help a child unwind, as long as it’s not a show or interactive game that generates too much excitement. However, the brightness of the screen undermines any supposed calming effects. The light from a television or computer can delay both the necessary drop in core body temperature and melatonin production—and thus delaying sleep onset—by two hours.

• Keep bedtime consistent. Inconsistent bedtimes are, for all practical purposes, homemade jetlag. Late nights result in the desynchronization of the two systems that regulate sleep, the circadian rhythm and the homeostatic pressure system. Staying up three hours later on weekends is equivalent to flying across three time zones every weekend.

• Avoid over scheduling kids. Overscheduled kids tend to be sleep deprived kids. According to University of Minnesota’s Dr. Kyla Wahlstrom, motivated students can sacrifice sleep to maintain high GPAs, but may pay for success with higher levels of depression and stress. Teens with extracurricular overload are significantly more likely to be involved in a fall-asleep car crash. And high schoolers with part-time jobs both sleep less and have lower grades.

• Common sleep disorders such as nightmares, restless leg syndrome, and frequent night waking can have a negative impact on children’s development—from using drugs at 14 to having clinical-level anxiety as adults. Research by University of Michigan’s Dr. Ronald Chervin suggests as many as 25 percent of kids diagnosed with ADHD have an underlying sleep disorder causing their symptoms. If treated for their sleep disorder, the ADHD symptoms may diminish. Despite the risks posed by sleep disturbances, the number of children treated for them is minimal. Parents should consult a qualified sleep specialist in addition to their pediatrician who may not have expertise in sleep problems.

“Kids like to know what to expect,” Claire Kamp Dush, OSU assistant professor of human development and family science and study author, told The Columbus Dispatch. She explained that creating family stability means maintaining the status quo. Study data indicate that single mothers who do not move in with a new partner or remarry create the most stable home environments for their children. When home life was stable, Kamp Dush found no difference in levels of academic achievement, cognitive stimulation, emotional support or behavioral problems between children from single-parent and traditional married-couple homes.

Some researchers see a connection between stability and financial resources. Many other studies have found differences between children’s welfare and happiness in single-parent and married-couple homes. Many of those differences are rooted in financial circumstances and quality of education. When poverty enters into the equation, it can tip the balance against stable home life.

Single mothers worried about finances are more likely to suffer anxiety, depression and other emotional problems that can significantly impair the stability of home life. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 50% of children born to single mothers live below the poverty level. Statistics posted by The Heritage Foundation indicate that 35% of divorced mothers who receive child support and 42% of those who don’t live below the poverty line.

If you are struggling with single parenthood, a qualified psychiatrist like Dr. Tracey Marks can help you deal with the anger, anxiety, grief or depression you may be experiencing so that you can provide a stable home for your children.

When they are young, children’s dreams change quickly. Today’s fireman is tomorrow’s astronaut and next week’s rock star. But as children grow up, dreams begin to move them toward career paths. Sometimes parents co-opt their children’s dreams, reliving their own failed dreams or missed opportunities through their children. The dad who always wanted to be a high school quarterback pushes his son into football. The mom who dreamed of winning the lead in the high school play pressures her daughter into drama.

When parents force their own agenda onto their children’s dreams, children suffer. They are torn between their own interest or lack of interest and pleasing their parents. When parents “over-encourage” their children to succeed, particularly if the child expresses disinterest or feels uncomfortable with his ability to compete, children can become anxious. Constant anxiety can lead to insomnia, behavior problems, even depression and other emotional problems.

Parents need to take a step back and allow children to fully experience their own dreams. Certainly, provide opportunities to explore interests and talents; but temper dreams with reality. If your child warms the bench during the game, don’t step in and argue with the coach or make excuses that feed your child’s sense of entitlement. Allow your child the important lessons of disappointment and failure. Finding out for themselves whether they have the ability and skill to realize their dreams helps children to refine and restructure their dreams into attainable goals.

If your child is the victim of bullying:

• Teach your child to stand up for himself by saying things like “I don’t like what you are doing.” Teach him to stay calm and walk away from bullies.
• Tell your child when and how to ask for help. Suggest they find an adult and tell them about the problem if they are being bullied.
• Encourage your child to develop friendships with other children. Children who are socially isolated are more apt to be bullied.
• Support activities that interest your child.
• Alert school officials and teachers if your child complains about bullying. Be an advocate for your child and see that the situation is resolved.
• Ask other adults to watch out for your child’s safety when you cannot be present.

If your child is a bully:

• Emphasize to your child that you are firmly against bullying.
• Be a positive role model for your child. Show him how to get what he wants without teasing, threatening or hurting another person.
• Set firm and consistent limits on aggressive behavior.
• Be clear in defining age-appropriate consequences for bullying behavior and be consistent in implementing those consequences.
• Use effective, nonphysical discipline such as loss of privileges.
• Work with school officials, teachers, counselors and the parents of victims to develop practical solutions.

Bullying can have a disastrous long-term impact on a child’s emotional development. If your child is a bully or a victim, consider taking him or her to a board certified psychiatrist like Dr. Tracey Marks. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is effective in replacing detrimental, maladjusted behaviors with positive, life-affirming ones.

“Children who are bullied have higher rates of depression, anxiety, low self-esteem and other mental health conditions. Children who are bullied are more likely to think about suicide, and some of these wounds may linger into adulthood,” warns the Mayo Clinic in a recent online report.

Almost half of all schoolchildren are bullied at some point, according to the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. Bullying can happen to any child, but young children and those with few friends are the most at risk. Bullying need not be physical (punching, hitting, kicking or destruction of property); teasing, name-calling, racial slurs, gossip, malicious rumors, and other verbal abuse can be even more damaging. Internet and cell phone access has moved bullying out of the school yard and onto the Internet. Called cyberbullying, electronic harassment makes it easy for children to malign, embarrass or threaten their peers anonymously.

As the school year starts, it’s important for parents to tune in to their children and watch for the warning signs of bullying:

• Bruises, scrapes or other injuries
• Ripped or missing clothing or personal possessions
• Few friends or statements such as “nobody likes me”
• Headaches, stomachaches or other physical complaints
• Trouble eating
• Trouble sleeping or nightmares
• Anxiety when preparing for school or talking about school
• Fear of going to school or playing hooky
• Trouble concentrating on schoolwork; declining or failing grades
• Fighting or behavioral problems
• Depression, listlessness
• Suicidal statements such as “you’d be better off without me”

With the advent of cyberbullying through emails, instant messaging, Facebook and blogs, bullying has become so prevalent that the American Academy of Pediatrics is urging pediatricians to include signs of bullying in patient assessments. Referral to a board-certified psychiatrist with an expertise in cognitive-behavioral therapy may be required to prevent the harmful effects of bullying or treat anxiety/depression caused by bullying.

Next time: What parents can do about bullying