Overcoming Sleep Struggles: Tips for Neurodiverse Families

Raising Lifelong Learners

In this week's episode, we dive deep into a topic that's a challenge for many families: sleep. Whether you're homeschooling neurodivergent kiddos, navigating giftedness, twice-exceptionality, or simply dealing with heightened anxiety, quality sleep is essential—and tricky to achieve.

Key Takeaways:

• Establish Consistent Sleep Routines: Structure is essential for signaling our brains to wind down. Even simple routines like a warm bath, brushing teeth, and reading can make a substantial difference over time.
• Optimize the Sleep Environment: Tailor the bedroom setup to your child’s sensory preferences. From using white noise machines to experimenting with bedding textures, creating a sleep-friendly environment is foundational.
• Addressing Anxiety and Screen Time: Tools like worry boxes, guided meditation, and limiting screen time before bed can significantly reduce nighttime anxieties and help improve sleep quality.

Here's a challenge for you -- try to shake up your family's sleep routine, then share what's working! You can share and tag us on social media or hit reply to this email. Let's celebrate improved habits together!

Links and Resources from Today’s Episode

Our sponsor for today’s episode is CTC Math

• The Homeschool Advantage: A Child-Focused Approach to Raising Lifelong Learners
• The Homeschool Advantage: A Child-Focused Approach to Raising Lifelong Learners Audiobook
• Raising Lifelong Learners Membership Community – The Learners Lab
• Raising Resilient Sons by Colleen Kessler, M.Ed.
• Do Gifted Kids Need Less Sleep? {Establishing Better Sleep Habits}
• This is Why Your Gifted Child Struggles to Fall Asleep
• 100 Hints That Your Child May Be Gifted
• The Anxiety Toolkit

Connect with Colleen You can find Colleen on Twitter @ColleenKessler, Facebook @RaisingLifelongLearners, Instagram @ColleenKessler