My Brain Needs a Break

Do you ever feel groggy or grumpy? Are there days when you have trouble focusing at school or don’t feel like going to soccer practice? You may not be getting enough sleep!

Sleep is the body’s way of recharging from all the activities and thinking it performs during the day. When you get too little sleep, or do not reach a deep sleep, your brain isn’t able to completely recover from a busy day and get ready for the next! Our brains use sleep time to sort through the days’ events, store information and memories, and replenish our bodies so we can stay healthy and fit! Think of all the things you do in a day. You learn, do homework, run and play after school, complete chores, and much more! It’s easy to see why your brain needs a break!

So how much sleep is enough sleep? People tend to think 8 hours of sleep each night is best. For some people, 8 hours is plenty. The truth is that everyone requires a different amount of sleep daily! For children between ages 5 and 11, 10-11 hours of sleep every night is recommended. How much sleep do you get on a typical night?

Can you think of ways to achieve a more sound sleep at night? Going to bed at the same time every night can be very helpful! Quietly reading before bedtime instead of watching TV is another routine that can prepare your mind for sleep. Select 3-5 tips that you think would be helpful to you and commit to including those suggestions in your nightly bedtime routine! Research to find helpful ideas!

Create colorful designs that symbolize the tips you selected. Draw your designs on a pillowcase using Crayola Bright Fabric Markers! For best results, use 100% cotton fabric. Place a piece of paper or recycled newspaper inside the pillowcase to prevent bleed through. Be sure you saturate the cloth when using the Bright Fabric Markers. Apply multiple layers for vivid color! Stain Advisement: Fabric markers are permanent on clothing and contain colorants that may stain household surfaces. Wear a smock to protect clothing and cover your work surface. Recap markers as soon as possible and store in a horizontal position. Do not shake markers.

When you are finished, ask an adult to iron your design. Set iron on cotton setting and iron on the reverse side using a back and forth motion for 4 minutes. Or place garment in the dryer for 30 minutes on the hottest setting. This will fix the color to the fabric.