Like with so many other topics, much of the information which can be found regarding guidelines for sleep is not designed to address the unique needs of a gifted child. The standard bedtime routines; recommended times for sleep; and total hours of sleep required may not be applicable to your gifted child, at all.
When seeking to assist your gifted child toward his or her optimal sleep schedule, it pays to keep an open mind and inquisitive perspective. The best sleeping habit, for your gifted child, is the one which allows the child to operate at maximum levels of mental and emotional efficiency.
Monitor for Signs of Sleep Deprivation
The first step in determining whether your child’s sleeping habits are sufficient is to – at least temporarily – suspend the sleeping conventions which have been established for those of non-gifted capacity. The second step is to examine your child for empirical signs that are associated with sleep deprivation. It may be the case that – though your gifted child is not conforming to conventional guidelines for sleep – he or she is, in fact, obtaining what is needed.
Physical signs of sleep deprivation include dark circles under the eyes; frequent yawning; and, of course, nodding off in the middle of a task. Mental signs of sleep deprivation include an inability to focus and a lack of clarity in thought. A lack of sleep can also manifest as the inability to regulate emotions. The origin of this latter observation may be hard to discern, however, as gifted children can tend to struggle with emotional regulation, regardless of quality of sleep.
If none of these signs of sleep deprivation are present, then there is likely no cause for concern. If it does turn out that your gifted little one is suffering from the lack of sleep, simply insisting that he or she retire to the bed at an earlier time may not be the best solution. Though complying with the demands of daily life might make it more difficult to explore, creative solutions to their unique situations may be your best option.
Allow for Mental Distractions at Bedtime
It is culturally expected that people fall asleep due to a lack of sensory stimulation. Lights are turned down, sounds are shut off, and eyes are closed. While this may lull the mind of an average person into dreamland, this absence of stimulation can actually kick the mind of a gifted person into overdrive. In the absence of outside stimulation, a gifted person’s mind can become singularly focused upon solving intricate puzzles of existence. It is possible for them to lie there, for hours, and not ever reach the state of sound sleep, at all.
This phenomenon has been noted by many gifted individuals. The most popular notion regarding the wonders which can be unleashed within the mind of a gifted person during periods which are supposed to be dedicated to full sleep was presented by Albert Einstein. Einstein noted that his best ideas came to him while in the twilight zone – which is that state of being in between wake and deep sleep – and he would often induce that non-REM state of mind when seeking inspiration. He also compensated for the lack of deep sleep by taking frequent, daytime, naps.
Our gifted little ones may be aware, on some level, that this is their experience with attempting to sleep. Particularly when the directive to sleep is set according to a parental schedule, the gifted child may become distressed by the inability to comply. They may be finding that they are not able to shut their brains down, and obtain genuine rest, until many hours after the directive for sleep time has been issued. Employing the standard techniques for reaching sleep – such as through mindfulness and relaxation techniques – is exactly contrary to the problem of their minds being persistently overactive.
Rather than expecting your gifted to do the impossible – and shut his or her mind down on demand – consider allowing some sensory stimulation at bedtime. Although it seems contradictory, substituting a less cerebral source of input for the silence can quiet the gifted child’s mind enough for sleep to be obtained. In a sense, the gifted child’s brain can be bored into sleeping, through the child paying attention to something that is relatively mindless.
For some gifted children, allowing them to watch familiar television shows – which they have already fully memorized – may be the sleeping potion. Others become sleepy while reading, or while engaging in a simple video game. Find what works for your child, and ignore the cultural pressure to remove all stimulation from the sleeping space.
Let Them Nap
As opposed to the kinds of naps which arise due to sleep deprivation, planned naps can be used provide a steady stream of energy to the brain. It has already been mentioned that Einstein loved his naps. Napping is also a common practice in multiple, non-western, cultures, where it is expected that some shuteye at lunch time will result in a more productive, second, shift of work. At this point, even within our western cultural development, the idea is catching on that sleeping during the day may not be so shameful, after all.
For gifted children who are already in a specialized educational program, presenting the idea to teachers that a midday brain boost is in order may not be too difficult a task. It is an even easier concept to integrate if your gifted child is home schooled.
For the gifted child who is in a public school system – where the focus is still on training children to work from dawn to dusk – making sure that he or she is able to recharge with a nap may be more difficult. If you are up against a school which is not progressive in matters of meeting sleep needs, it may help to champion the cause through pointing out that other schools are already recognizing the benefits of integrated nap time.