Children who stay active during the day fall asleep more easily at night. An Australian study of over 500 seven-year-olds analyzed their sleep patterns and confirmed this link.
On average, these children took 45 minutes to drift off, but active kids needed just 26 minutes. The type of quiet activity didn't matter—watching TV proved as effective as reading. Faster sleep onset also meant longer total sleep duration.
Experts advise plenty of daily exercise for kids, followed by a calm hour before bed. Overstimulation right before lights out can hinder sleep.
