Every child deserves to have a bed of their own

Thursday, March 30, 2023

When children who were sleeping on a couch, an air mattress, or the floor receive a bed, the impact is huge. The Iowa-Des Moines Chapter of Sleep in Heavenly Peace's mission is “No Kid Sleeps on the Floor in Our Town”, and thanks to funding from a Variety Grant, 70 children now have a bed of their own.

Thirteen-year-old Christopher had been sleeping on an air mattress when his teacher requested a bed for him, saying that he confided in her that he was tired at school because he wasn’t sleeping at night. He had trouble staying awake, alert, and paying attention at school and it was affecting his grades. His mom reported that the first morning after sleeping in his new bed he said, “That was the best I’ve slept for as long as I can remember!” He is now able to focus at school and his grades are improving.

Nine-year-old Arianna has a serious medical condition and wasn’t sleeping well on her crib-size mattress on the floor, which was much too small for her. When she received her bed her mom noted how much her mood improved and how Arianna was more cheerful when she could sleep well, despite her other challenges.

There is an immediate positive impact of a better night’s sleep when children have a bed of their own – improved sleep improves mood, behavior, and attention, as well as improves a child’s sense of self-worth when they have a space of their own. This also takes a burden and sometimes shame off the shoulders of their parents or grandparents who aren’t able to provide beds for their children. School performance may improve, and the risks of poor sleep are diminished.

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