Getting up for school in the morning can be tough for kids, and it isn’t uncommon for teachers to see children putting their heads on the desk to take a nap. Now, while some teachers may look at that as lazy, one teacher recently went viral explaining why they allow it, and many experts agree this is a good idea.
A TikTok user who goes by @bcholeman posted a video explaining why he’s okay with letting kids nap in class, with the video receiving over 7.4 million likes. He writes, "Sometimes the nicest thing a teacher can do for a student is let them come in, lay their head down and go to sleep," adding, "Life can hit hard, and we all need some grace."
And now experts agree this is a good thing, noting that just because a kid is tired, doesn’t necessarily mean they are lazy. CynthiaCatchings, a licensed clinical social worker and therapist at Talkspace, suggests this could be a sign of depression, noting kids as small as five or six could be diagnosed with it. And Dr. NicholasKardaras, psychologist and CEO of Omega Recovery treatment center, agrees that sleep problems could be "a red flag for depression."
Catchings explains that stress and anxiety play a big role in kids not getting enough sleep, noting that if they are upset about school issues it may keep them up at night. She also says that if a student is sleeping in class, some bigger issues could be at play. “Maybe there's some domestic violence; maybe there is alcoholism or other issues at home,” she says, “so that means that maybe the child is not going to be sleeping properly."
Catchings supports the idea of teachers letting their kids sleep in class but also suggests they try and “investigate” what is going on. She also believes teachers should involve a parent or a counselor, or both. Also, they should reach out to the school’s medical or mental health team, especially if a student’s issues are starting to impact their learning.
Source:Yahoo
Photo: Getty Images