National Sleep Foundation: https://www.sleepfoundation.org/articles/teens-and-sleep

Health for Kids: https://www.healthforkids.co.uk/staying-healthy/sleep/

A fun and interactive page for children, with information on the importance of sleep and tips for how to get ready for bed

Young Minds: https://youngminds.org.uk/find-help/feelings-and-symptoms/sleep-problems/

Provides information on topics including anxiety and worries, nightmares, night terrors, wetting the bed, and altered sleep problemsYoungMinds Crisis Messenger service: https://youngminds.org.uk/find-help/get-urgent-help/youngminds-crisis-messenger/

For urgent help, young people can text YM to 85258; all texts are answered by trained volunteers, with support from experienced clinical supervisorsProvides free, 24/7 crisis support across the UK.

The Mix: https://www.themix.org.uk/your-body/sleeping/how-much-sleep-do-i-need-6542.html

Offers helpful advice on how much sleep young people need and how to recognise the signs of not getting enough sleep.

Mind: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/sleep-problems/sleep-problems/

• Explains insomnia and other sleep problems, giving practical suggestions for what you can do and where you can go for support

Mental Health Foundation: https://mentalhealth.org.uk/a-to-z/s/sleep

• The full Sleep Matters report is available for download: https://mentalhealth.org.uk/publications/how-sleep-better
• Offers a range of other booklets and webpages with helpful information on other aspects of mental health

Good Thinking provides digital mental health support for London.

• Includes NHS approved apps, guides, workbooks, podcasts and blogs
• Relating to different mental health difficulties such as low mood, anxiety, sleep, and stress
• Main page: https://www.good-thinking.uk/

MOSHI

Mindfulness topics include kindness, gratitude, positive thinking, and patience, among othersContains soothing audio stories, meditations, music and white noise (audio only, to avoid using screens at bedtime)

Free download; premium subscription unlocks new and additional content (free 7-day trial, then £29.99/year)

Provides breathing exercises, visualisations, and focus- based meditationOffers videos for children: https://www.headspace.com/meditation/kids

Sessions are customised for three age groups: 5 and under, 6-8, and 9-12, with “Goodnight” and “Sleep Tight” meditations tailored to each groupAlso include 45-minute sleepcasts to help children fall asleep

• Free download; free 2-week trial, which automatically converts to yearly payment of £49.99. Cancel anytime.

Sleep Meditation for Kids:

• Consists of scripted story meditations, with relaxing sound effects and gentle music
• Designed to help children with sleep issues, insomnia, stress, anxiety, and to increase feelings of confidence and well-being
• Suitable for all children up to the age of 12
• Free download; features one free 13-minute bedtime meditation, plus 7 other meditation tracks available to buy as inApp purchases

Books

I Love You, Little Monster, by Giles AndreaeThe following books are recommended by the Royal College of Psychiatrists (https://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/members/your-faculties/child-adolescent-psychiatry/news-and-resources/for-public)

Can’t You Sleep, Little Bear?, by Martin Waddell
The Goodnight Caterpillar: A Children's Relaxation Story, by Lori Lite
A Boy and a Turtle: The Children’s Visualisation Book, by Lori Lite

For more therapeutic stories about bedtime, see Little Parachutes: https://www.littleparachutes.com/category/experiences/bed-time/
Why Do You Need a Good Night’s Sleep? (by BBC CBeebies’ Get Well Soon, with British doctor Dr Ranj Singh): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6oEXGiWV3p8
Tommy the Bedtime Turtle (by Cosmic Kids Yoga, with Jaime Amor): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCLW77sABTc
Why is Sleep Important? (from Chwee Hang Baey): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgCwrumLEhU
This Is The Way We Go To Bed (by Super Simple Songs): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1YjJmMvnOw

Books

• Sitting Still Like a Frog: Mindfulness Exercises for Kids (and Their Parents), by Eline Snel
• Sitting Still Like a Frog Activity Book: 75 Mindfulness Games for Kids, by Eline Snel
• Neon the Ninja Activity Book for Children who Struggle with Sleep and Nightmares: A Therapeutic Story with Creative Activities for Children Aged 5-10, by Dr. Karen Treisman
• What to Do When You Dread Your Bed: A Kid's Guide to Overcoming Problems with Sleep (What-to-Do Guides for Kids), by Dawn Huebner (Author), Bonnie Matthews (Illustrator)

Videos

• Why Do We Sleep? | The Dr. Binocs Show (by Peekaboo Kidz): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CoCL0IB4u4g
• Good Sleep in Kids and Teens (by paediatrician Dr. Adiaha Franklin): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05Z8yv-7y3Q
• Why Do We Need Sleep? (by SciShow Kids): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_aAmaCeq9v4

Adolescents

Videos

Sleep! Let’s Talk About It! (by Rise Above):https://riseabove.org.uk/article/sleep-talk/

What would happen if you didn’t sleep? (a TED-Ed lesson by neuroscientist Dr. Claudia Aguirre) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqONk48l5vY

The benefits of a good night’s sleep (a TED-Ed lesson by paediatric neurologist Dr. Shai Marcu): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gedoSfZvBgE

Roman Kemp’s Sleep Experiment (by Rise Above, with radio host and TV personality Roman Kemp): https://riseabove.org.uk/article/sleep-challenge-featuring-roman-kemp/

The Sleep Council: https://sleepcouncil.org.uk/

• Offers a wide range of resources and advice on sleep, including:
  • Common sleep problems in children: https://sleepcouncil.org.uk/advice-support/sleep-hub/family-matters/common-sleep-problems-in-children/
  • Sleep tips for children with additional needs: https://sleepcouncil.org.uk/advice-support/sleep-hub/family-matters/children-with-additional-needs/
  • Toddlers and sleep: https://sleepcouncil.org.uk/advice-support/sleep-hub/family-matters/toddlers-and-sleep/
• For more information specifically on sleep in teenagers and adolescents: https://teensleephub.org.uk/
• A handy “Good-Night Guide for Children” is available for download here: https://sleepcouncil.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/GNGC-website-view.pdf 

Child Mind Institute: https://childmind.org/topics/concerns/sleep/

• Provides tips and suggestions on how to help teenagers get more sleep: https://childmind.org/article/help-teenagers-get-sleep/
• Other informative articles include:
  • Why Are Teenagers So Sleep-Deprived?: https://childmind.org/article/teenagers-sleep-deprived/
  • Teens and Sleep: The Cost of Sleep Deprivation: https://childmind.org/article/happens-teenagers-dont-get-enough-sleep/

Royal College of Psychiatrists:

• “Sleep problems in childhood and adolescence: for parents and carers”: https://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/mental-health/parents-and-young-people/information-for-parents-and-carers/sleep-problems-in-childhood-and-adolescence-for-parents-and-carers
• Provides information on common sleep disturbances in children and adolescents, including: daytime sleepiness, nightmares, night terrors, and sleepwalking

National Sleep Foundation: https://www.sleepfoundation.org/sleep-topics/children-teens-sleep

• Provides guidelines on how much sleep babies, children and adolescents need: https://www.sleepfoundation.org/excessive-sleepiness/support/how-much-sleep-do-babies-and-kids-need
• Offers articles containing helpful tips on a wide range of topics related to children, teens, and sleep, including:
  • Sleep strategies for kids: https://www.sleepfoundation.org/articles/sleep-strategies-kids
  • How blue light affects kids & sleep: https://www.sleepfoundation.org/articles/how-blue-light-affects-kids-sleep
  • Children’s stress & sleep: https://www.sleepfoundation.org/articles/childrens-stress-sleep
  • What happens when my child or teen doesn’t get enough sleep?: https://www.sleepfoundation.org/articles/what-happens-when-my-child-or-teen-doesnt-get-enough-sleep

NHS:  https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/sleep-and-tiredness/?tabname=childrens-sleep

• Offers information on tiredness and fatigue, and sleep tips in general
• Also covers:
  • Healthy sleep tips for children: https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/sleep-and-tiredness/healthy-sleep-tips-for-children/
  • How much sleep do children need?: https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/sleep-and-tiredness/how-much-sleep-do-kids-need/
  • Sleep tips for teenagers: https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/sleep-and-tiredness/sleep-tips-for-teenagers/
  • Why are teens always tired?: https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/sleep-and-tiredness/why-are-teens-always-tired/

• Available in Redbridge Libraries: https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/client/en_GB/redbridge/search/detailnonmo dal/ent:$002f$002fSD_ILS$002f0$002fSD_ILS:1605173/one?qu=9780349405 209&lm=REDBRIDGE

• Recommended by the Royal College of Psychiatrists: https://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/mental-health/parents-and-young-people/information-for-parents-and-carers/sleep-problems-in-childhood-and-adolescence-for-parents-and-carers
  • The Sleep Fairy, by Janie Peterson and Macy Peterson
  • Solve Your Child's Sleep Problems, by Richard Ferber
    • ISBN: 9780091948092
    • Available in Redbridge Libraries: https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/client/en_GB/redbridge/search/detailnonmodal/ ent:$002f$002fSD_ILS$002f0$002fSD_ILS:11600/one?qu=9780091948092&lm= REDBRIDGE

Why do we sleep? (TED talk by Russell Foster, Director of the Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology and the Head of the Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute): https://www.mentallyhealthyschools.org.uk/resources/why-do-we-sleep/?page=1&IssuePageId=4375

How do Teenagers Sleep? (by Penguin Books UK, with Professor Matthew Walker, author of bestselling book “Why We Sleep”): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnzDODyapbY

How can Sleep Affect a Teenager’s Education? (by Penguin Books UK, with Professor Matthew Walker, author of bestselling book “Why We Sleep”): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jB1Wcmvyl8M

Help your child to sleep – empower connection to relax (TEDx Talk by Danish bestselling author Gitte Winter Graugaard): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fE2bDYVhVRg&t=52s

APPS

Sleepio:

An evidence-based digital sleep intervention that has been shown to help people fall asleep, stay asleep, feel refreshed, boost energy, and improve performance

Sign up online, do the sleep test, and create an account at: https://www.sleepio.com/

You can then download the app, designed to supplement the online programme, free from the App store

Free for NHS staff, and available at no cost from some IAPT talking therapy providers

• Not recommended for children under 16 years or pregnant women
  • To check if Sleepio is suitable for you, please see here: https://www.sleepio.com/suitable/
• For more information, please see: https://www.nhs.uk/apps-library/sleepio/

Headspace:

• Provides breathing exercises, visualisations, and focus-based meditation to help you go to sleep, including:
  • “Sleepcasts” (45-55 minute-long audio experiences)
  • “Wind downs” (meditation and breathing to prepare the mind for sleep)
  • “Nighttime SOS” (guided exercises for waking up in the night)
  • Sleep music and sleep radio
• Free download; free 2-week trial, which automatically converts to yearly payment of £49.99. Cancel anytime.
• For more information, please see: https://www.headspace.com/

Mentally Healthy Schools: https://www.mentallyhealthyschools.org.uk/risks-and-protective-factors/lifestyle-factors/sleeping-problems/

Offers suggestions for teachers to discuss the importance of sleep with primary school students.

Provides links to external resources on topics including:

Sleep Relaxation: https://www.mentallyhealthyschools.org.uk/resources/sleep-relaxation/?page=1&IssuePageId=4375

Good Sleep Hygiene: https://www.mentallyhealthyschools.org.uk/resources/good-sleep-hygiene/?page=1&IssuePageId=4375

11 ways to get a good night’s sleep: https://www.mentallyhealthyschools.org.uk/resources/11-ways-to-get-a-good-nights-sleep/?page=1&IssuePageId=4375

Teaching English (BBC): https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/article/sleep

Available for download: a sleep lesson plan and sleep student worksheet, including a sleep self-assessment quiz

Public Health England:

Offers a Year 6 Lesson Plan Pack available for download: https://campaignresources.phe.gov.uk/schools/resources/sleep-year6-lesson-plan-pack; and a KS3 and KS4 Lesson Plan Pack: https://campaignresources.phe.gov.uk/schools/resources/sleep-KS3-KS4-lesson-plan-pack

Includes a lesson plan, PowerPoint, and action plan exploring the benefits of good quality sleep for the brain and body.

The PowerPoint includes a video that provides students with helpful strategies for better quality sleep.