Getting enough high-quality sleep on a consistent basis is vital for human health and well-being, particularly for children.<\/p>\n
That can be a tall order as summer temperatures climb, with nights providing little relief from the heat.<\/p>\n
\u201cSummer heat can make consistent sleep more difficult, which may lead to a loss in energy, more negative emotions and behaviour and can impact learning and development,\u201d says Brock University Professor of Kinesiology Toby M\u00fcndel. \u201cIt can even stifle children\u2019s immune systems.\u201d<\/p>\n
Body temperatures need to lower during the night to get good sleep, says M\u00fcndel, a Canada Research Chair in Extreme Human Environments.<\/p>\n
\u201cAn ideal temperature for your child\u2019s room ranges from 16 to 20 C to be comfortable and safe,\u201d he says. \u201cOf course, this is easier if you can let in cooler nighttime air or have working air-conditioning.\u201d<\/p>\n
M\u00fcndel says that regardless of whether a household has air conditioning, there are a number of ways that parents can help keep their kids cool at night:<\/p>\n