A well-rested family is a happy family, but when sleep is in short supply, moods can turn sour faster than a colicky baby in an airplane! Skimping on shut-eye doesn’t just make everyone cranky; it can take a serious toll on mental health, leading to stress, anxiety, and emotional outbursts for kids and adults alike. But there’s no need to lose sleep because simple adjustments can ensure your family gets the rest they need. From setting consistent bedtimes to creating a relaxing wind-down routine, small changes can make a big difference in everyone’s mood and mental well-being. BUILD A SLEEP SCHEDULE FOR SUCCESS. As parents, you can set the tone for your family by creating effective sleep-ready routines that include consistent bedtimes and relaxing habits. When your children go to bed at the same time every night, it resets their body’s internal clocks, making it a habit to get enough rest. They will naturally begin to get drowsy at this time and wake up with more energy from better, deeper sleep. Leading up to bedtime, try out some calming activities like reading a book, putting on classical music, or lighting a lavender candle. If your children are old enough, they Sweet Dreams for the Whole Family Why a Good Night’s Sleep Can Boost Everyone’s Well-Being
WET AND WISE
A dip in the pool should never result in the loss of someone precious to you.
With summer in full effect, now is the time for critical reminders about keeping your loved ones safe when they enjoy the water. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 800 children in the U.S. die every year from drowning, while thousands more are injured in accidents that occur in streams, oceans, and bathtubs. Please consider these critical safety tips before hitting the pool in your backyard, at a friend’s place, or in a public spot. POOLSIDE PROTECTION POINTERS If young children will use a pool on private property this summer, the American Red Cross recommends installing a four-sided, self- closing, and latching gate around it. Compared to a three-sided property-line option, a gate of this style will reduce the risk of drowning by 83%. When the pool is not in use, remove any ladders, steps, or outdoor furniture a child could use to access the pool without adult supervision. Medical Myths, L Inside the Online Misinforma If you’re using Google or ChatGPT to gather legal or medical information, you may be living in a fantasy world without knowing it. Here are two critical truths to remember when utilizing the internet as a research tool. CHATGPT IS FLUENT BUT FAULTY. If you’re one of the nearly 68 million people in the U.S. who use ChatGPT, you’re aware of the AI-powered chatbot’s ability to do everything from turning your family vacation photos into anime illustrations to generating detailed and articulate information on virtually any subject. However, ChatGPT and similar AI tools tend to “hallucinate” and generate information that looks legitimate at first glance but is incomplete in detail or completely inaccurate. In a 2023 blog post, bestselling author Bernard Marr explored the website’s failure to provide accurate information on key historical events. For example, it stated that Leonardo da Vinci painted the Mona Lisa in 1815 despite the artist dying in the 1500s. In another, it credited George Washington — not Eli Whitney — with inventing the cotton gin. BE CAUTIOUS OF ‘CYBERCHONDRIA.’ According to the Pew Research Center, 59% of U.S. adults research medical information online — a practice that could cause more
can try chamomile tea, which is known to help people go to sleep. Limiting screen time to an hour or two before bed is essential because the blue light
on devices can keep the mind distracted and wound up, making it difficult to drift off. You can lead by example by putting your phone or
tablet away in the evening.
SNOOZE YOUR WAY TO HAPPINESS. Studies have found that children and parents who get adequate sleep function better, excel academically, and are in a better mood overall. As we snooze, our body is hard at work resetting our systems for the next day. Chronic insomnia gets in the way of those essential repair cycles, making emotional regulation and resilience hard to achieve. With a few small changes to your nighttime routine, you can turn your family’s restless nights into sound slumbers and wake up to a much happier and healthier home!
2
Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator