Is Melatonin Safe for Children?

Is melatonin safe for kids? We dive deep into this sleep aid to see what the side effects are, how it works, and if you can give it to your kiddo.

“Why won’t my little one fall asleep?,” you ask yourself, exasperated from going back and forth to their bedroom repeatedly throughout the night. There are many over-the-counter sleep remedies available and the one that seems to generate the biggest buzz is melatonin. 

Is melatonin safe for kids? Before we get there, what exactly is melatonin and what does it do? And are there sleep aids for kiddos that don’t require them to ingest a pill or liquid? Here’s a hint: yes, and one of those alternatives is our smart companion, Snorble® - more on that later.

What is melatonin?

There are two types of melatonin:

• The natural hormone our bodies make
• The lab-created version you buy in stores

The hormone: What is the natural version of melatonin?

Melatonin is a hormone naturally produced in our bodies that correlates to the time of day. When it’s dark, our brain tells the body to release melatonin to signal that it’s time to think about going to bed. In the morning and throughout the day (when it’s light out), our brain decreases melatonin production which is why we don’t get sleepy during the day - unless we’re overtired. 

As we get older, melatonin production declines, making it harder for us to fall asleep. Although this doesn’t happen to everyone and with a good bedtime routine in place, we can still convince our brains that bedtime equals sleep time. The same goes for children. With a bedtime routine, your kiddo will be set up with great sleeping habits that they can carry with them throughout their life.

The lab-created supplement: Is melatonin a drug?

The melatonin you can purchase is made in a lab and available as a tablet, capsule, or syrup. In Europe, Japan, and Australia, melatonin is only available with a prescription. In North America, it is available over the counter and anyone can purchase it at their local pharmacy and big box drugstores. The FDA considers melatonin to be a dietary supplement because it occurs naturally in some foods like tart cherry juice and walnuts. (These does not mean that consuming tart cherry juice or walnuts will make your little one fall asleep faster.)

How does melatonin work?

Melatonin is produced by the pineal gland in our brains. This hormone is both a chronobiotic agent (aka helps our brains tell what time of day it is) and a hypnotic. This means that the chronobiotic properties regulate our body’s internal clock and the hypnotic properties are what help us fall asleep because the chronobiotic effect occurs in all of us without prompting. Around 1-3 hours before the onset of sleep, our brain goes into dim light melatonin onset (DLMO) telling our bodies that it’s time to start getting into relaxation mode. 

When we take melatonin supplements, we are using them for their hypnotic effects. Since we are taking a higher dose than what’s naturally occurring in our bodies, the supplements are signaling to our brains that it’s time to sleep within 30 minutes to an hour of ingestion. 

What are the side effects of melatonin?

When taken orally and in appropriate dosage, melatonin is generally safe. However, there are some side effects:

• Headache
• Nausea
• Drowsiness 
• Dizziness

Taking melatonin supplements nightly could delay the onset of puberty and hinder hormonal development. Because the body produces melatonin on its own, when adding more melatonin regularly to induce sleep, our brains may be confused and overproduce other hormones to create a balance. 

Can you give melatonin to a child?

Yes, melatonin is safe for children but, before giving your child melatonin, please consult your pediatrician. We cannot stress the importance enough of talking to a medical professional before administering melatonin to your kiddo. 

What about children with sleep disorders? Can they use melatonin?

Sleep problems in children, especially toddlers, can affect their behavior and cognitive functioning. If these problems aren’t addressed early they can affect your child’s future quality of life. Sleep disorders in children can be caused by other underlying issues such as asthma, atopic dermatitis, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and nyctophobia-induced anxiety (fear of the dark). Melatonin may allow kiddos with sleep disorders to catch some much-needed zzzs but please, consult a doctor before giving your little one any. 

Snorble’s ready for bed

Instead of reaching for that jar of melatonin to help your little one sleep, reach for Snorble! Our smart companion for children is designed to give your kiddo the emotional, learning, and cognitive tools necessary to fall asleep and stay asleep. The Magical Bedtime Experience™ is complete with pajama time, tooth brushing prompts, storytime, and other important aspects of bedtime to give your child a one-way ticket to dreamland. Besides giving your kiddo everything they need to get to bed, Snorble’s interactive daytime games are education-based to prepare your child for school, teach healthy habits, and encourage social-emotional growth. There are also winddown activities for relaxation like yoga and reflection, and jokes for when your little one needs a good laugh. 

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Sources:

• Mayo Clinic melatonin overview
• Craig Canapari, MD
• NIH circadian rhythm overview
• NIH melatonin overview
• McGill University: How melatonin can be sold without a prescription 

Photo by zhenzhong liu on Unsplash

Let’s Get Physical: The Benefits of Exercise for Children

How do you get your kiddo moving? We explore the benefits of physical activity for children and how you can get your little one the right amount of exercise.

An active child is a well-adjusted child because physical activity improves their mental health, and decreases the risk of anxiety, pain, and loneliness. Moreover, developing your child’s physical skills gives them tools they can use throughout their lives like positive body image.

Getting your kiddo up on their feet can turn into an impressive feat once you teach them how important moving around every day is. How do you get your little one to [cue the music] Move it! Move it! in a way that’s fun and exciting? 

We’ve got activities you and your child can do together and info on how a cute and cuddly smart companion named Snorble® can provide a little push to get your kiddo up and at ‘em. 

How much exercise should children get?

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends the following:

• For toddlers (kids aged 1-2 years), they should also be active for about three hours per day. Anything from jumping, running, hopping, light energetic movements like dance, and active play are encouraged for this age group.
• Preschoolers (children aged 3-5 years) should be actively playing throughout the day. Active play includes about three hours a day of light, moderate and vigorous activities. Those three daily hours should include free play, planned play, and adult-led physical activity. 
• School-aged children (6-8 year-olds) should get 60 minutes or more of moderate to vigorous physical activity daily. This age group can benefit from muscle and bone-strengthening activities like stretching and walking (at least three days a week) on top of traditional physical activities for school-agers like swimming lessons, organized sports, gymnastics, and dance classes. 

Ideally, no child over three years old should be inactive for more than 1-2 hours at a time (unless they’re sleeping). But, there are long road trips to grandma’s house and other circumstances that may keep them from moving around. It happens!

Benefits of developing your child’s physical skills through activity

Bopping around, dancing, running, jumping - these are all essential aspects of your little one’s growth. Physical activity promotes: 

• Brain function - Essential mental functions are supported when kiddos exercise. Kids who move have better motor skills like hand-eye coordination, may be adept at problem-solving, have stronger attention skills, and are overall better learners. 
• Good health - Physical literacy is like reading: it’s fundamental to your kiddo’s growth. When we’re active, our bodies produce endorphins, a hormone that acts as a natural painkiller. When endorphin production is in full swing, we may feel less pain and experience an overall sense of calm with an improved mood. Active children have higher energy levels during the day and sleep better at night. Couple daily exercise during the day with Snorble’s Magical Bedtime Experience™ and you’ll have one well-rested kiddo on your hands. (More on that in a bit.)
• Interpersonal and intrapersonal communication - Physical activity, especially team sports, shows children how important communication is. When children play in a group setting, they learn how to communicate with their teammates and work towards a common goal of winning the game. Although winning doesn’t matter, the journey of how children work in tandem and focus on the outcome of each step in whatever game they’re playing gives them the tools needed to relieve social pressures, develop a rapport with their peers, and offer words of encouragement to their teammates and even themselves. 
• Better relationship with their own body - As children get older and puberty kicks in, their bodies go through changes that they may have a hard time coping with. But, when kids are active from toddlerhood on, they can develop a great relationship with their bodies leading to improved body image, self-esteem, self-worth, and self-confidence. If you instill an appreciation for the human body and what it can do instead of how it looks, you’re helping your kiddo understand that what they weigh or how they’re built doesn’t matter as long as they’re healthy and active. Positive body image goes a long way and it’s something your little one can carry with them throughout their life. 

Physical activities for little ones

You can do many exercise-related activities with your youngster like going for a walk. This is especially easy to do when you have a dog or another pet that needs to be walked because you can make this a daily ritual for you and your child. Besides you and your little one taking your pet out for bathroom duties, you can: 

• Teach your kiddo to ride a bike. 
• Play outside with them when the weather permits. And if the weather doesn’t permit, build an indoor fort using your couch cushions and towels.
• Games like tag teach your child endurance as they try and escape the dreaded “It!”
• If you have a park nearby, equipment like monkey bars provide strength training for your kiddo. 
• For little ones, learning to bend down and tie their shoes can improve their flexibility.
• Community centers sometimes have affordable programs for children like gymnastics, dance, soccer, swimming, and basketball where it’s not about how well they play but how much they move. Plus, organized sports and activities give children a chance to interact with their peers and learn teamwork skills.

Snorble’ll get your child moving

Our smart companion is designed with children’s development in mind. When we created Snorble, our goal was to prepare children for the world they live in and equip them with the tools necessary to pick up healthy habits, develop their social-emotional skills, instill a love of learning, and get a good night’s sleep. With a customizable bedtime routine with soothing soundscapes and a nightlight that ushers in sleep, educational games, yoga and mindfulness activities, and fun tasks to get your kiddo moving around, you’ll have everything you need for their positive development.

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Sources:

• CDC 
• Kids Health
• CDC Physical Activity Benefits 
• Canada Public Health Services 
• About Kids Health  

Photo by MI PHAM on Unsplash

6 Easy Acts of Kindness for Children to Do

Kindness is key in today’s world. These 6 acts of kindness are simple and will show your kiddo how easy it is to be nice.

When children learn to be kind, they’re set up for life. Kindness can be taught and it starts with you. Showing your kiddo how to do good deeds can improve their well-being, develop positive motivations and increase their self-esteem. When kids are kind, they also get a better understanding of their own privilege, appreciate what they have, and empathize with others. Plus, when children are kind instances of violence and bullying are less likely to occur.

By showing your little one how to perform simple acts of kindness, you’re also showing them how to be compassionate, generous, and giving. We often use the word “perform” when it comes to doing good but it’s not a performance. When your child learns to be kind through various actions, they won’t be putting on a show, they’ll be proud of themselves and there’ll be nothing performative about it.

We’ve compiled a list of six kind acts that you can do with your child to show them how kindness works, and how our smart companion, Snorble®, can help create a kinder tomorrow for your kiddo (more on that in a bit).

Six acts of kindness that you can do with your kiddo

This is a loose guide and we encourage you to involve your child in the discussion of which act(s) you decide make the most sense for your family. The reason we’ve chosen these particular acts of kindness is they don’t require much except a few dollars and a little love.

Smile safely 

What’s the cutest thing ever? A smiling child! By showing your kiddo how to smile safely and comfortably, you’re giving them an outlet for happiness. That’s great, you say, but where’s the act of kindness? It’s in their smile. Seeing another person smile is contagious and could make someone’s day. However, err on the side of caution when it comes to who your youngster is smiling at. You can make a “smile at” list with them and decide who in your lives could use a quick pick-me-up whether it’s a neighbor or bus driver or even a sibling who is having a bad day.

Attack with compliments 

Just like a smile can make someone’s day, a compliment goes a long way. Showing your little one how to compliment people will lead to acts of kindness. By teaching your child how compliments can be beneficial to the giver and receiver, you’re also teaching them about cause and effect. For instance, give your kiddo a simple compliment and then ask them how they feel after hearing it. Then ask them to give you a compliment and explain how you feel afterward. Eventually, your little one will give compliments to their friends and family in earnest when they understand the positive effect this simple gesture can have. 

Be perfectly polite 

Teaching your child to say “please” is an easy act of kindness that can be done daily. When your kiddo understands how powerful these simple words are, you’ll create a monster, a monster of love and respect. Being polite is the perfect way to instill kindness in your child that won’t take much effort on your part as long as you set a good example. When your little one sees you thanking others and saying sorry when you make a mistake, they’ll follow suit.

Say thank you for services

We often take for granted the people in our lives that aren’t a part of our Village. From teachers to cashiers at your local grocery store to the crossing guard that ensures your kiddo gets across the street safely, these people make the world a better place and are often ignored. Have your child pick their favorite non-family member or friend and craft a thank you note. This little act of kindness can go a long way, especially if your kiddo can hand-deliver it. 

Put carts in their place

The grocery store is a very interesting locale. People leave their carts strewn about the parking lot and entrance when they’re done with their shopping. Some people are allergic to putting items back in their place when they realize they don’t need them. How many times have you seen a random banana in the frozen food section? However, you can be the exception by showing your little one a simple act of kindness: putting your cart back in the corral when you’re done. This helps your youngster understand that kind behavior doesn’t always have to be a grand gesture. Something as simple as returning a shopping cart to its rightful place or putting items back where they belong when you don’t need them is a behavior that works at home too. Finished with that toy? Put it back where it belongs until you want to play with it again.

Give the gift of toiletries and socks

For this act of kindness, you’ll need a few plastic bags (or toiletry bags), travel-size shampoos, toothpaste, toothbrushes, bandaids and deodorants, and pairs of socks. You can pick up these items at the dollar store and you and your kiddo can make gift bags to donate to shelters in your community. In doing so, your child will learn about those less fortunate and see how their kind act of giving essential items can make a huge impact.  

Invest in kindness with Snorble

Our interactive smart companion is designed to prepare children for school through play-based learning initiatives. Besides educational games, healthy habit-building exercises, and a customizable bedtime routine complete with a nightlight and soothing soundscapes, there’s also a reward system where you can gift your little one virtual stars when they complete certain tasks. Moreover, Snorble has yoga and mindfulness activities to give your youngster the tools they need to be a kind, well-rounded individual as they develop their social-emotional skills.

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Sources:

• https://www.verywellfamily.com/random-acts-of-kindness-for-kids-4136440
• https://www.mindfulmazing.com/acts-of-kindness-for-kids/ 
• https://mcc.gse.harvard.edu/reports/children-mean-raise 
• https://mcc.gse.harvard.edu/research-initiatives/caring-families-research-project 
• https://www.rd.com/article/acts-of-kindness-for-kids/

Photo by Moses Vega on Unsplash

What is SEL: Social-emotional Learning for Children

What is social-emotional learning? We break down SEL and how it gives children the tools necessary to get ahead academically, socially, and personally.

Not to be confused with sel, the French word for salt, SEL stands for social-emotional learning and there is nothing salty about it. Social-emotional learning is the process of acquiring and combining the knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed to develop healthy identities. Moreover, SEL helps children manage their emotions, show empathy towards others, establish and nurture supportive relationships, and make responsible decisions without sacrificing their morals and those of others.

How can parents and caregivers ensure their youngsters are getting their daily dose of SEL and how can our smart companion, Snorble®, provide a launchpad for social-emotional development? More on that later, but first, what are the outcomes of SEL?

The benefits of SEL: when children thrive by trusting themselves

When children can utilize the basics of SEL in their everyday lives, they’re more likely to be inclusive and trustworthy. The Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL), an organization dedicated to providing students (PreK-12th grade) and educators positive outcomes through SEL, denotes five main competencies that lead to benefits:

1. Self-awareness: SEL helps children recognize their emotions and how they impact behaviors. In doing so, kiddos can acknowledge their strengths and weaknesses to enable them to be more confident. 
2. Self-management: Through SEL, children are able to take control and ownership of their thoughts, emotions, and actions in any situation. Plus, when you’re able to own your thoughts, emotions, and actions, you can work towards achieving your goals without distraction.  
3. Social awareness: Through SEL, your little one will gain the ability to put themselves in someone else’s shoes. Instead of fearing the unknown, when they meet and interact with kids from diverse backgrounds, they’ll be accepting and eager to learn about cultures different from their own. For children, learning about what makes people different whether it’s culturally or medically allows them to not only understand their privilege (if applicable) but also be more compassionate and empathetic.
4. Relationship skills: Listening and being able to communicate with others is an important part of any child’s development. Imagine a world without temper tantrums before bed. Okay, that’s a stretch because some kiddos aren’t sold on sleep and need a smart companion like Snorble to give them a boost into dreamland (more on that in a bit), but through SEL, children gain the ability to build healthy relationships. When we learn to listen and focus, we’re able to communicate effectively and peacefully resolve conflict. In addition, SEL shows youngsters that asking for help isn’t a bad thing. And when you learn that it’s good to ask for help, you also learn when to offer help. It’s a win-win!
5. Responsible decision-making: Social-emotional learning encourages children to make responsible decisions that consider their well-being and the well-being of others. When kiddos learn to make decisions by weighing consequences, ethics, and safety, they are equipped with valuable skills that can enhance their development like mindfulness. 

Let’s get meta about SEL

A meta-analysis of data compiled from 213 studies (one of which is found here) with over 270,000 participating students found the following:

• When children are taught the five core components of SEL as aforementioned, their academic performance increased by 11 percentile points compared to kids who didn’t get SEL training.
• Students who participated in SEL programs showed improved performance in classroom settings and possessed an increased ability to manage depression and stress. Additionally, these same children felt better about themselves, others, and even going to school. We can’t say for certain if chants of “I don’t wanna go to schoooool!” ceased completely with these kiddos, but their chants may now contain fewer o’s when drawing out the vowels in the word “school.”
• If the majority of children receive social-emotional learning support, it’s estimated that 27% more students would improve their academic performance and social behaviors, and lower their stress levels.
• SEL helps quash negative behaviors like bullying by 95%. Also, educators claimed that SEL promotes motivation and engagement in learning by 94%, creates safer schools (93%), and boosts teacher-student relationships where kids are excited to learn and be in the classroom or remote learning settings (91%). 

SELebrate your children’s accSELeration with Snorble

We may be reaching with that heading, but Snorble is a smart companion designed to guide children through their social-emotional development, instill healthy habits, and prepare them to thrive in academic settings. With educational games, SEL activities, mindfulness and relaxation exercises, and a customizable bedtime routine complete with soothing soundscapes, your little one will have everything they need to exSEL. We’re done SELling Snorble now. Promise! 

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Photo by Jerry Wang on Unsplash

When Should Children Stop Napping?

When should children stop napping? What are the cues parents and caregivers need to look for to know when daily naps aren’t needed?

Napping helps us recharge our internal batteries and get rest if we need it. For toddlers, a nap gives them a chance to refresh after running around chasing the family pet in circles, helps their overall well-being and development, and gives them the energy to constantly ask, “Why?”

Toddlers (kiddos between the ages of 1-2 years old) require 11-14 hours of sleep over 24 hours. This includes naps. When they reach preschool age (3-5 years old), children should get 10-13 hours of sleep and may not need naps. There is no rule as to when your child should stop napping because it depends on their energy level, how active they are during the day, and if they’re able to fall asleep and stay asleep through the night.

There’s no official playbook on napping but there are certain cues you can pick up on that’ll let you know when your youngster doesn’t need their daily dose of dozing off. Plus, Snorble®, our smart companion for kids, has tools for sleep, education, and social-emotional development to get your child ready for their no-nap future.

Let’s get into it, but first, why are naps good for kiddos?

Why do children need naps?

Dr. Michael Breus, a clinical psychologist and sleep medicine expert, says naps play an important role in a child’s ability to learn, improve their memory, and even build vocabulary. For parents and caregivers, a napping child gives you a chance to catch some zzzs yourself or take care of chores, get some work done, and have some quiet time where no one is asking you, “Why?”. 

When naps are no longer needed

Eventually, your little one will outgrow their need for naps. For some children, naps end at age three. For others, naps are needed until age five. To figure out when your child is done with napping, there are certain cues you can pick up on besides them saying they don’t want to nap anymore. 

Sleep doesn’t come easily at nap time

If your kiddo is having difficulty falling asleep at nap time, this could be a sign that they’ve outgrown the need for it. You may notice that your little one is no longer tired during the day, especially around the time that they’d go down for a nap. You may also notice that your child is singing, playing, tossing and turning while laying in bed before eventually falling asleep. This is their version of trying to tire themselves out and after a while, it may not work. This could mean that they need to forgo their nap or change the timing of when the nap occurs. 

Sleep doesn’t come easily at night

At a certain point, napping during the day could hinder your child’s ability to fall asleep at night. Instead of pushing your kiddo’s bedtime later, monitor when they’re sleepy. This will give you an idea of when they need to go to bed and if they still need a nap. It’s better for their development to shorten the amount of time spent napping during the day but not the amount of time spent sleeping at night. In addition, creating a bedtime routine will give your little one a way to prepare for sleep at the same time each night (or sameish because we know all too well that having children means schedules can change on a dime).  If you haven’t set up a bedtime routine for your child, Snorble has that feature (more on that later). 

They’re not cranky on no-nap days

Hold it right there - a child that isn’t cranky? Yes, it is possible but only when they’ve had enough sleep during the night. If your youngster is all smiles and laughter on days they don’t nap, it could be a sign that they’re ready to give up their daytime zzzs. But, be aware that although crankiness is a common sign that your child is tired, it could also be caused by them not understanding how to regulate their emotions yet. This is normal and nothing to worry about. Emotions are tough, even when you’re an adult. 

They’re waking up way, way, way, way before they’re supposed to

When your kiddo is waking up hours before their set wakeup time, it could be because they’ve slept enough during nap time that they don’t need those extra winks. You can try shortening their nap or if they’re consistently well-rested and waking up early, eliminate the nap. If your child is an early riser, Snorble has quiet games and activities they can do that will keep them in their bedroom until it’s their actual wakeup time (more on that below).

How to encourage your child to stop napping

When it’s time to stop napping, it’s time to stop napping, especially if your child is starting school where they won’t be able to get their daily respite. There are ways to encourage your child to let go of naps without over-tiring them.

Make time for quiet time

Instead of putting your kiddo down for their nap, put them down for quiet time. Let them sit quietly for an hour with a book or listen to soft music while they color. They can also unwind with yoga or mindfulness exercises (Snorble has these activities) so they can recharge without sleeping. 

Cold turkey is only good for sandwiches 

Quitting napping cold turkey can mess with your child’s sleep habits. Allow for an adjustment period where naps are allowed every second day to start and eventually taper off. Let your child transition away from naps gradually over a few weeks or a month - however long you feel your kiddo needs to stop taking daily naps. Moving away from naps won’t happen in a day. It could take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. Moreover, what works for one child may not work for another so you’ll need a lot of patience which as parents/caregivers is pretty much expected of us. 

Snorble’s got the goods for sleep and development

Our smart companion for children is more than a toy, it’s an interactive STEM/STEAM experience during the day and a magical bedtime experience at night. We’ve designed our cute and cuddly companion to be hugged and loved but also allow your kiddo to get a good night’s sleep and enhance their social-emotional development. Snorble teaches children healthy habits like the importance of teeth brushing, tells stories to give young imaginations a boost, and prepares them for starting school with educational STEM/STEAM games. There’s also yoga, reflection, and mindfulness activities for quiet time and a customizable bedtime routine that you can set for your little one complete with ambient nightlights and soothing soundscapes. With Snorble, when your youngster asks, “Why?,” they’ll have the tools to figure out the answer for themselves, and you’ll get peace of mind. 

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Sources:

• https://www.sleepfoundation.org/children-and-sleep/when-do-kids-stop-napping#:~:text=Sixty%20percent%20of%20four%2Dyear,by%20seven%20years%20of%20age. 
• https://www.happiestbaby.com/blogs/toddler/when-do-toddlers-stop-napping 
• https://www.pampers.ca/en-ca/toddler/toddler-sleep/article/when-do-kids-stop-napping 
• https://www.healthline.com/health/childrens-health/when-do-toddlers-stop-napping 
• https://www.parents.com/kids/sleep/naps/nap-time/ 
• https://thesleepdoctor.com/children/when-do-kids-stop-napping/ 

 Photo by Jelleke Vanooteghem on Unsplash

Why Laughter is Important for Children

Have a laugh with your kiddo and help their development, well-being, mental health, and more!

Cackles, guffaws, chuckles, tee-hees, chortles - whatever you call it, laughter is the best medicine (besides actual medicine, of course, because you can’t treat cancer with jokes). For children, laughter is an important part of their development that helps them relax, relieve tension, and gives their mental health a positive boost. 

“I’m not a comedian!,” you exclaim. Neither are we but, you don’t need to be Don Rickles - dated reference alert! - to make your kiddo laugh. With a little love and our smart companion Snorble® in your corner, you’ll have your little one laughing it up in no time. 

The science behind giggles

When we experience pain, our body releases hormones called endorphins. These hormones are produced in the brain to reduce stress, relieve pain, and improve our overall mood. We can get endorphin boosts from many activities like exercise, eating, getting a massage, and laughing. When we laugh, our brain sends out a team of endorphins to let our body know that we don’t need to feel stressed at the moment. It’s like our brain is saying, “Go ahead and laugh it up. You’ve earned it!”

Besides endorphin production, laughter has the ability to soothe our entire body and relax our muscles up to 45 minutes post-giggle fit. Having a laugh can decrease stress hormones, increase immune cells and infection-fighting antibody production, and give us a feeling of calm. Because laughter relaxes the body, our mental health improves too. All those benefits just because we wanted to know why the chicken crossed the road! 

A laughing child is a child who gets it

As parents, we all want our children to be happy, smart, creative, and well-adjusted. Being exposed to humor and laughter in the home can lead your kiddo to develop problem-solving skills, and increase their ability to make hard decisions using critical thinking. Tittering away, whether it’s from a book you’re reading to your little one, a joke you’ve told, or anything that makes them laugh can inspire creativity. Plus, when babies laugh, it’s the gosh-darned cutest thing in the world. In fact, when any child laughs it’s adorable no matter if they’re a toddler chuckling while playing with the family dog or an eight-year-old telling their first (of many) poop jokes. Get used to that. Kids are going to learn about body waste and they are going to laugh their heads off when talking about it. They’ll grow out of it. Unless they become proctologists. 

Laughter + learning = success

We laugh, and we learn, but what happens when we combine them? We speed up our informational intake and can better remember facts. When reading to your kiddo or playing games, you can incorporate humor while teaching them. For instance, if you’re playing with blocks to help them with their motor and counting skills, you can use a silly voice or make up characters. Humor used in educational settings, whether at home or in the classroom, gives your child a better chance of retaining what they’re learning.  

How to get your laughs at home

A great way to show your child the importance of laughter is to laugh at home. There are many ways to giggle that involve you and your kiddo yucking it up regularly.

• A list of laughs: if your youngster is feeling blue, create a laugh list with them. This will help them remember what they think is funny and you’ll have a ball doing it. 
• Have a family laugh: whenever you can be together as a family, have a big laugh. This could be at Grandma’s house over the holidays, or in the car on the way to get groceries - basically any time you have your entire brood in one place. You can make a game of it by seeing who can laugh the longest or who takes the longest to break. Either way, you’re ramping up your kiddo’s endorphin production. 
• Fake it until you make it: if you have nothing to laugh about, fake it. Even pretending to laugh can raise serotonin levels (the chemical that carries messages between our brain and body to help with sleep, digestion, nausea, blood clotting, and bone health). 
• Put laughs on display: take a series of funny photos or videos with your youngster. Look at the photos and videos together when your kiddo needs a pick-me-up or you can print them out and hang them on the fridge, or frame them and hang them in your home. 
• Laugh at yourself: if you make a little mistake in front of your child, laugh it off. This will show your kiddo that not everything deserves a tantrum. This isn’t to say that they won’t turn into a banshee at bedtime when you’re trying to put them down at night, but it does allow them to use humor as they get older to deal with whatever life throws at them. 
• Get your appropriate guffaws in order: different cultures have different senses of humor which add to the cosmic gumbo that makes up our world. However, laughing at people who are different, teasing, or tee-heeing at anything inappropriate is never good. Teach your child about the difference between laughing at someone and laughing with them. 

Snorble’s no joke when it comes to laughter

If your little one is feeling down or simply wants to chuckle, Snorble can tell them jokes. Because humor is such an important part of your child’s development, we felt that besides teaching your little one healthy habits, providing educational games, and social-emotional activities that help with development, we had to get some funnies in the mix. So, our smart companion’s got jokes. Age-appropriate jokes! 

What jokes does Snorble tell? You’ll have to get one and see. But rest assured, none are proctology-related!

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Sources:

• https://kidskingdom.ca/kanata/unleash-power-of-laughter-with-your-child/ 
• https://www.eskaykids.com.au/why-laughter-is-so-important-for-children/ 
• https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/children_and_laughter_a_winning_combination 
• https://www.littlecedars.co.uk/benefits-of-laughter-for-babies-children/ 
• https://www.stlouischildrens.org/health-resources/pulse/set-stage-lifetime-laughter 
• https://www.thegardnerschool.com/blog/the-power-of-laughter/ 
• https://www.nationalgeographic.co.uk/family/2021/01/lol-why-laughter-might-really-be-the-best-medicine-for-kids 
• https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/stress-relief/art-20044456 

Photo by Mieke Campbell on Unsplash

Fear of the Dark in Children

Fear of the dark is common in children. However, you can give your little one the tools necessary to confront that fear and help them grow out of it.

It’s bedtime. You’re about to tuck your little one in when they hit you with this, “There’s a monster in my closet.” You open the closet door to show them that there’s nothing in there except for their clothing. Then there’s a monster under the bed. Once you’ve verified that there’s nothing under the bed, there’s another monster and another. Each monster delays the inevitable shutting off the lights. 

These monsters aren’t actually monsters and it’s not going to sleep that your kiddo fears, it’s the dark. Fear of the dark is common in children and with your love and help, and a little night support from our smart companion, Snorble®, your youngster can face their fears and get a good night’s sleep.

What is fear of the dark called?

Fear of the dark is called nyctophobia. It comes from the Greek word for night and encompasses the anxiety and symptoms that go along with being scared of being alone in the dark and darkness itself. Nyctophobia is more common in children, however, people of all ages can be plagued by this fear. 

What causes us to fear the darkness?

Back, back, back, back, back, back, back in the day, our ancestors lived and slept out in the open making darkness very dangerous. Predators roamed the night and you never knew who or what threatened your safety. Because our ancestors had to be vigilante even at night, this awareness of the unknown has stayed with us as we evolved. 

Moreover, a person who has a troubling or traumatic experience in the dark is more likely to develop a fear of it. Memories of that traumatic event (or any traumatic event for that matter) can often return when we’re ready in bed and know the lights have to turn off so we can get some sleep. As children are learning about bedtime and the importance of sleep on their overall well-being and development, they’re also dealing with a fear of the unknown. To a child, the world is a big, wondrous place full of things they don’t know, especially when the lights go off. 

Fear of the dark in toddlers and preschoolers can be brought on by noises they hear when the lights go out, especially when they have no idea where the noises are coming from or what caused them. In addition, kids are highly influenced by what they see. If they walk in on an older sibling watching a horror movie and catch a glimpse of something unsettling, this could turn into nyctophobia. They could also overhear their parents and caregivers talking about a horrible current event that they don’t understand but can grasp enough to know it’s bad news. Kiddos are creative and have wonderful imaginations but that creativity and imaginative curiosity can lead to phobias at night.

When do kids start fearing the dark?

Generally, children begin to fear the dark around age two. This fear can last anywhere from a few weeks to a few months to a few years depending on your kiddo’s genetic makeup, if they have experienced a traumatic event, or have an underlying issue that hasn’t been addressed like ADD, PTSD, and OCD. 

For anyone of any age, being alone in the dark can feel uncomfortable due to uncertainty. What’s that noise? Who else is in here? However, for children that are nyctophobic there are specific triggers beyond turning the lights off at night that can make them anxious:

• Getting ready for bed - the simple act of putting their PJs on and brushing their teeth can make some youngsters uneasy knowing that soon they’ll be in the dark trying to sleep
• Walking into a dark place, even during the day - movie theaters, going down to the basement, or any darkened place where a child can’t reach the light switch can be terrifying for them
• Watching a movie or TV show with nighttime scenes - even watching a cartoon where the action takes place at night can provoke their fear of the dark

Can you help your little one overcome their fear of the dark? 

You sure can! Besides telling your youngster that you’re not going anywhere while they’re sleeping and even popping your head into their room a few times as they’re dozing off to comfort them, you can try:

Having a conversation about the dark

When you acknowledge your child’s fear of the dark, you’re telling them that this is a real fear and you understand that they’re having a tough time with it. If you ignore it or tease them, even in a playful manner, this may magnify the fear and make it worse. Instead of saying things like, “Big kids aren’t scared of the dark.” you can instead say something like, “Tell me what’s scaring you so we can talk about it.” This way you’re giving your child a chance to unpack their fear and you can get to the bottom of it. 

Offering security in the form of an object

For children trying to cope with the darkness, a security object like a blanket or stuffed animal can help them feel more relaxed and secure during the night. Should they wake up in the middle of the night in a panic because it’s too dark to see, they can hug their security object for comfort. You can also tell your kiddo to talk to their security object for reassurance even if they don’t get a response. Snorble can be used as a security object and your child will get a response when they have a conversation in the middle of the night. (More on that below.) 

Training for relaxation

Yoga, meditation, and reflection, are all great ways to train your child to relax before bed. Snorble offers those activities as part of the Bedtime Experience wind-down component. By showing your kiddo how to close their eyes and focus on their breathing, they may eventually learn to do that on their own when faced with nyctophobia. 

Lighting the night with a nightlight

Nightlights can help children get over their fear of the dark as long as they’re not exposed to bright blue light while they’re trying to sleep. Using a nightlight offers security for your child and allows them to see enough of what’s around them without illuminating the entire room. Snorble’s a nightlight too so you can leave our cuddly smart companion on while your child sleeps to bathe their room in low ambient lights. 

Imagining a better darkness

One of the most precious things about children is their imagination. You can imagine a better darkness with them by playing in the dark with glow-in-the-dark toys. You can also let their imaginations run wild by naming the monsters and boogeymen they think are hiding in the shadows. With a backstory, the scary ogre in their closet can turn into a loving mythical creature that protects them from harm while they sleep. 

Making sure bravery doesn’t go unnoticed 

When your little one confronts their fear of the dark, whether it’s sleeping through the night or not asking you to check the closet for monsters before bed, you can give them a little reward. This will not only make them feel good about themselves but give them an incentive to stand up to the darkness and face their fears.

Snorble’s not in the dark about nyctophobia 

Here at Team Snorble, we know first-hand how fear of the dark can keep your little one from getting a good night’s sleep. We were kids once and we now face nyctophobia with our children. But there’s hope! Snorble can act as a nightlight and comes with an entirely customizable Bedtime Experience designed to get your kiddo into bed, fall asleep, and stay asleep. Your youngster can even cuddle Snorble during the night as a security object to protect them from the invisible menaces they think are lurking in the dark. 

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Sources:

• https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2022/03/26/fear-of-dark-kids-tips/ 
• https://www.whattoexpect.com/toddler/sleep/toddler-afraid-of-the-dark/ 
• https://www.webmd.com/parenting/features/fear-of-the-dark 
• https://www.parents.com/toddlers-preschoolers/development/fear/how-to-help-your-kid-overcome-their-fear-of-the-dark/ 
• https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22785-nyctophobia-fear-of-the-dark 
• https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/fear-and-anxiety-children 
• https://www.variationspsychology.com/blogs/why-are-kids-so-afraid-of-the-dark-11-things-parents-should-know 

Photo by Caleb Woods on Unsplash