Is your child have difficulty sleeping at night? Try incorporating some type of physical activity into their daily routine.

According to Dr. Sonia Smith, owner and practitioner at Emerald Coast Pediatric Sleep Consultants, LLC., children should have at least one hour or more of physical activity each day.

“Exercise and sleep go hand-in-hand,” Dr. Smith said. “Exercise helps to lower the risk of obesity, speed up metabolism and increase your energy during the day. Studies have shown that people who exercise frequently report better quality sleep.”

Exercising helps to regulate the sleep and wake cycle in children by increasing the body temperature during the day and lowering the body temperature at night, resulting in a good night’s rest.

Lack of exercising can lead to obesity, which can directly impact your child’s quality of sleep. Obese children often have difficulty exercising and are at an increased risk for breathing problems during sleep.

Dr. Smith recommends children stop exercising three hours before bedtime. “Exercising right before bedtime can interfere with the body’s ability to fall asleep. Exercise increases your metabolism, which heats up the body. For good sleep, the body’s temperature needs to be cool.”