A study performed in Udine, Italy looked at injuries in children and amount of sleep they had had the previous 24-48 hours. The study consisted of 292 children ranging in ages from infants to high-schoolers presenting to a university medical center's pediatric emergency center. The results are interesting.

1: Injuries occurred more often in late afternoon (36.0% from 4 PM to 7 PM) and during weekend days (35.2%).

2: Almost half of the children usually slept 10 to 11 hours a day, including both nighttime sleep and daytime naps.

3: Overall, more children had longer hours of sleep during the control period (the day before the injury) than during the study period (the immediate 24 hours before the injury)

4: Falls were the leading cause of injury (42.5%), followed by injuries from striking against objects or from being struck by objects or persons (16.4%), and by bicycle accidents (13.4%).

5: sleeping <10 hours a day was associated with an 86% increase in injury risk. A fourfold increase in injury risk was also associated with being awake for at least 8 hours prior to the injury. The risk increase was significant among males only.

6: Among all males, the risk increase was significant and boys attending the nursery school seemed to be those who suffered the most from sleep deprivation.

Psalm 23 says, "He MAKES me lie down in green pastures." Note the word MAKES. Rest is not something we go to naturally whether we are a 2 year old or a 42 year old. However, the Lord has leveled the playing field in that we ALL need rest.

This concept of rest is most important in our little ones. This study was not a surprise to most of us parents, but confirmed what we easily dismiss on a busy day. "Oh, I'll just run one more errand before we go home, Sally isn't that tired, just one more store and then we'll go home." Before you know it you are getting home at dinner time and another nap has passed you by. What do we compromise when we give up on naps or weaken our resolve at bedtime? What is the difference between sleep at 8 or 10 PM, well with children, it is a lot.

During sleep, their brains are restored. Frazzled neurons are cooled, growth occurs, hormones cycle, and muscles rest -- just to name a few. In our children growth and development occur 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, so it is essential that they have rest. In preschoolers midday rest is ESSENTIAL not optional. The truth is 90% of 5 years old have naturally stopped napping, not 90% of 3 years old as many parents mistakenly believe.

The above study shows us another factor of sleep deprivation -- accidental injury. The facts speak for themselves, but note in preschoolers sleep deprivation is being awake for 8 hours.

So, take a moment to read the 23^rd psalm this week. Remind yourself that He makes you lie down, not because He is a hateful God that does not like progress, but because He is a loving God that wants to see His beloved children rest because it is for our better good. Remind your children that this is why you want them to nap.