Screening children for sleeping problems and discussing sleep strategies with parents could help youngsters settle into school with better night time routines, according to a study from Australia. Study author Jon Quach, from the University of Melbourne, and his team found that when they had sleep-related consultations with parents, children tended to have fewer sleep problems and better bedtime habits than children whose parents didn't get counselled. The study, published in Pediatrics, was small and didn't show that the sleep improvements led to changes in academic achievements later in the year. "Sleep problems are common in young school children and are treatable using ... a brief behaviour-based intervention," Quach told Reuters Health in an email. "Parents should seek advice for their child's sleep if they are concerned." In five- and six-year-olds, most sleep problems are related to the children's behaviour, researchers said. "S...
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