Australian scientists conducted a study whose main goal was to identify the effects of children's daytime sleep on their behavior, cognitive abilities, physical condition, and the quality of night sleep. Were analyzed the questionnaires of children under five years old, who always slept during the day.
The summary of the study was as follows: daytime sleep strongly influenced the quality of sleep of the child as a whole. So, in children older than two years, the afternoon rest not only lengthened the procedure of evening sleep, but also reduced the duration of a night's sleep. Concerning the effect of daytime sleep on the behavior and cognitive abilities of children, specialists did not receive a single answer, since the different ages of the examined children and the individual peculiarity of their day rest prevented the adoption of a unified and objective opinion.
At the same time, American scientists have found that the afternoon rest significantly improves children's brain function, helping kids 3-5 years better remember information. The fact is that during sleep, the activity of the brain areas responsible for learning increases significantly.
