General
Kids Help Phone – sleep diary
Kids Help Phone is an organization that offers 24/7 confidential mental health support to Canadian youth. They also provide numerous resources for parents and youth on related topics such as sleep. Their Sleep Diary resource is designed to help youth track their sleeping habits for up to two weeks and see what sleep behaviours work best for them. Youth can record their daily sleep information (before bed and after they wake up) online on this platform or on the pdf version of the sleep diary.
Live 5-2-1-0 – sleep fact sheet
The Live 5-2-1-0 sleep fact sheet provides a simple overview of the benefits of quality sleep and explains how following the Live 5-2-1-0 guidelines supports healthy sleep habits in youth. The fact sheet also touches on how quality sleep impacts choices throughout the day. Share this fact sheet with parents, caregivers, and students through your school’s social media accounts.
ParticipACTION – family influence on sleep behaviour (Pdf)
ParticipACTION is a non-profit organization that promotes physical activity amongst Canadians. Resources are featured on a variety of topics such as physical activity, sleep, family and friend relationships. Family influence on sleep behaviour fact sheet features sleep hour recommendations based on the Canadian 24-hour Movement Guidelines, shares tips for healthy sleep behaviours and benefits of a good night sleep.
Sleep On It Canada – tools and resources
Sleep On It is a Canadian public health campaign that focuses on the importance of sleep by working with other Canadian organizations to deliver simplified sleep knowledge and solutions to the public. Their tools and resources section shares resources (available in English and French languages) for parents and youth in a variety of formats such as worksheets, reports, podcasts, and on a variety of topics such as types of sleep complications, tips for a better sleep, and why and how we dream. Check out their Dos and Don’ts resource for a breakdown on important sleep behaviours for all ages, including teenagers.
The Canadian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines for Children and Youth
The 24-Hour Movement Guideline provides children and youth irrespective of gender, race, ethnicity, or socio-economic status with a general outline of what their 24-hour day should look like regarding time spent participating in physical activity, sleep, and sedentary behavior. Incorporate the sleep guidelines into discussions and lessons about maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and access the free toolkits for students, educational staff, and parents/guardians.
Canadian Mental Health Association – Sleep Hygiene
The Canadian Mental Health Association is partnering with Sleep Country to raise awareness of the impact of sleep on mental wellbeing and success in school. Consider reviewing and sharing this resource to learn more about the association between sleep and mental and physical health, as well as the essentials needed to maintain sleep hygiene.
Caring for Kids – Teens and Sleep
The Canadian Pediatric Society has created a resource that answers some of the commonly asked questions about teens and sleep, for example, “why do teens need more sleep?”, “how do I know if I am getting enough sleep?”, “why is it important to get enough sleep?”, and “why is it so hard to get enough sleep?”. Review this resource to understand why youth may be struggling to get enough sleep and how this can be addressed, as well as signs to look for when these concerns should be escalated to a medical professional.
Alberta
My Health Alberta – better sleep for teens: care instructions
This resource provides an overview on the importance of quality sleep for youth and outlines healthy habits that can be incorporated into their daily routine to help enhance their sleep outcomes. Parents and educators can share this resource with students to help educate youth on how to sleep well. My Health Alberta shares other informative content related to sleep such as sleep problems and stages of sleep.