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Updated: Nov 16, 2025

Measuring Neural Mechanisms Underlying Sleep-Dependent Memory Consolidation During Naps in Early Childhood
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Measuring Neural Mechanisms Underlying Sleep-Dependent Memory Consolidation During Naps in Early Childhood

Published on: October 2, 2019

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Sleep and self-regulation in early childhood

Reagan S Breitenstein1, Caroline P Hoyniak2, Maureen E McQuillan3

  • 1Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University-Bloomington, Bloomington, IN, United States.

Advances in Child Development and Behavior
|March 1, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Adequate sleep is crucial for children's self-regulation, impacting their behavior, emotions, and cognition. This research explores the complex relationship between sleep and self-regulation in early childhood.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Psychology
  • Pediatric Sleep Medicine
  • Child Neurodevelopment

Background:

  • Self-regulation is vital for children's adaptive functioning.
  • Sleep is increasingly recognized as a fundamental factor in child development.
  • Early childhood is a critical period for the development of self-regulation skills.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the theoretical and conceptual links between sleep and self-regulation.
  • To review existing research on sleep and self-regulation in early childhood.
  • To explore moderating factors influencing this relationship.

Main Methods:

  • Selective literature review of sleep and self-regulation research.
  • Theoretical synthesis of sleep's role in self-regulation.
  • Inclusion of empirical examples from the authors' research.

Main Results:

  • Sleep is strongly associated with behavioral, emotional, and cognitive regulation in children.
  • Methodological challenges exist in current research.
  • Child characteristics and sociocontextual factors interact with sleep.

Conclusions:

  • Sleep plays a significant role in the development of self-regulation.
  • Further research is needed to address methodological issues.
  • Understanding these interactions is key for supporting children's development.

Keywords:
Early childhoodExecutive functioningSelf-regulationSleepSleep problems

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