Sleep Chart May Help Children with Special Needs

by JoleneFeb 8, 2013Books and Resources, Special Needs Parenting28 comments

The Sleep Tight Sleep Chart could help a child with special needs overcome sleep issues.

Sleep issues and special needs are often intertwined. Kids with special needs like autism often sleep very little or have interrupted sleep. A recent study showed that preschool children with sleep problems like sleep apnea and snoring are more likely to need special educations services when they reach school age. The Different Dream post about the sleep study caught the eye of Karen Waterfield at Victoria Chart Company, and she sent their sleep chart for children 2 and older, for review.

What’s In the Envelope?

The sleep chart comes in a plastic envelope which contains:

A 12″ x 18″ colorful, laminated sleep chart
A black, water-based marker
A sheet of 130 reusable smiley face stickers
A sheet of 48 reusable start stickers
A folder with how-to-use-the-chart tips and other bedtime routine tips
Adhesive squares for hanging the chart on a flat surface in the child’s bedroom

What’s On the Chart?

The chart is divided into nighttime and daytime sections. Kids are rewarded with start stickers when they complete the following evening tasks:

Putting on bedtime clothes
Getting a small bedtime drink
Brushing teeth and using the bathroom
Reading a book
Getting into bed

In the morning, they receive a smiley face sticker for the following behaviors:

I did not call out in the night
I fell asleep all by myself
I stayed in bed all night
I stayed in bed until it was time to get up

What’s In the Folder?

The folder is full of common-sense tips designed to help parents make the chart work. Here are a few:

Start using the chart the first few nights of the week to avoid weekend interruptions.
Keep the routine consistent. Do the same things in the same order every night.
At the end of 5 nights, clear the chart and start over.

These tips and the others in the folder are practical, doable, and based on sound parenting practices. (More free resources and a free sleep certificate can be downloaded at Victoria Chart’s Facebook page.) Though my kids aren’t the right age for testing the chart, I know it would have motivated them when they were young.

Of course, the question is whether this chart can help your child with special needs overcome sleep issues, and I can’t answer that question. But, the chart could be a relatively innocuous and inexpensive way to address the issue.

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Photo credit: www.freedigitalphotos.net

By Jolene

Jolene Philo is the author of several books for the caregiving community. She speaks at parenting and special needs conferences around the country. Sharing Love Abundantly With Special Needs Families: The 5 Love Languages® for Parents Raising Children with Disabilities, which she co-authored with Dr. Gary Chapman, was released in August of 2019 and is available at local bookstores, their bookstore website, and Amazon. See Jane Dance!, the third book in the West River cozy mystery series, which features characters affected by disability, was released in October of 2023.

28 Comments

Jolene on March 25, 2013 at 6:11 pm

Sherry,

Unfortunately, the contest is over. But the kit is fairly inexpensive and it can be ordered at the Victoria Sleep Chart Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/VictoriaChartCompany?ref=ts&fref=ts. Click on the “shopping” button and that begins the process.

Jolene
Jolene on March 25, 2013 at 6:11 pm

Sherry,

Unfortunately, the contest is over. But the kit is fairly inexpensive and it can be ordered at the Victoria Sleep Chart Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/VictoriaChartCompany?ref=ts&fref=ts. Click on the “shopping” button and that begins the process.

Jolene
Sherry on March 25, 2013 at 3:04 pm

Would love to win this for my nearly 3yr old autistic nephew. They are letting him sleep in their bed, just so they can all get a little sleep because he doesn’t sleep. This would be such a helpful tool for them.
Sherry on March 25, 2013 at 3:04 pm

Would love to win this for my nearly 3yr old autistic nephew. They are letting him sleep in their bed, just so they can all get a little sleep because he doesn’t sleep. This would be such a helpful tool for them.
Jolene on March 25, 2013 at 10:34 am

Hello Pamela,

Go to their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/VictoriaChartCompany/. Click on the “shopping button” right below the “Like” button, and you’ll see the sleep chart listed. Click to begin the purchasing process.

Hope that helps,
Jolene
Jolene on March 25, 2013 at 10:34 am

Hello Pamela,

Go to their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/VictoriaChartCompany/. Click on the “shopping button” right below the “Like” button, and you’ll see the sleep chart listed. Click to begin the purchasing process.

Hope that helps,
Jolene
Pamela on March 24, 2013 at 11:43 pm

How do I get this sleep chart for my son?
Pamela on March 24, 2013 at 11:43 pm

How do I get this sleep chart for my son?
Jolene on February 15, 2013 at 10:07 am

Dear Sean,

Thanks for the information and for the work that you’re doing. Readers, if you try this product, come back and leave a comment about how it works for your child.

Jolene
Jolene on February 15, 2013 at 10:07 am

Dear Sean,

Thanks for the information and for the work that you’re doing. Readers, if you try this product, come back and leave a comment about how it works for your child.

Jolene
Sean Folkson on February 12, 2013 at 1:51 pm

Hi Jolene, thanks for this great post.

Funny, I recently looked at this product for our 3 year old…he doesn’t have special needs, but sleep is an issue for all kids (and all parents).

I found this post because I was researching information on autism and sleep…I created a product called NightFood, which is a nutrition bar for better sleep. We’ve discovered some unexpected fans: parents of kids on the autism spectrum.

I did some research and found that sleep is a fairly common problem, and that melatonin is often recommended for kids on the spectrum, as is a small bedtime snack.

So, right now, we’re looking for 10 families with kids on the spectrum to try a free box of NightFood and give us feedback (good or bad). Anybody interested can go to http://www.facebook.com/nightfood

thanks, and hope this might help a few kids (and a few families) with their sleep

Sean Folkson
Founder – NightFood, Inc.
Sean Folkson on February 12, 2013 at 1:51 pm

Hi Jolene, thanks for this great post.

Funny, I recently looked at this product for our 3 year old…he doesn’t have special needs, but sleep is an issue for all kids (and all parents).

I found this post because I was researching information on autism and sleep…I created a product called NightFood, which is a nutrition bar for better sleep. We’ve discovered some unexpected fans: parents of kids on the autism spectrum.

I did some research and found that sleep is a fairly common problem, and that melatonin is often recommended for kids on the spectrum, as is a small bedtime snack.

So, right now, we’re looking for 10 families with kids on the spectrum to try a free box of NightFood and give us feedback (good or bad). Anybody interested can go to http://www.facebook.com/nightfood

thanks, and hope this might help a few kids (and a few families) with their sleep

Sean Folkson
Founder – NightFood, Inc.
LISA Sherrington on February 11, 2013 at 6:48 am

wOULD LOVE THIS TO HELP MY 9 YR OLD WITH AUTISM HE WAKES UP ALOT DURING THE NIGHT. WE GIVE HIM EPSOM SALT BATHS AND MEDIATION AND SOOTHING MUSIC BUT HIS BRAIN DOESNT QUITE MUCH. THANK YOU.
LISA Sherrington on February 11, 2013 at 6:48 am

wOULD LOVE THIS TO HELP MY 9 YR OLD WITH AUTISM HE WAKES UP ALOT DURING THE NIGHT. WE GIVE HIM EPSOM SALT BATHS AND MEDIATION AND SOOTHING MUSIC BUT HIS BRAIN DOESNT QUITE MUCH. THANK YOU.
Jolene on February 10, 2013 at 1:03 pm

Giulia,

Thanks so much for sharing your insights. You are absolutely correct to say that a sleep chart is not a magic cure for sleep issues in kids with special needs. As parents, we must avoid simplistic solutions and look for underlying conditions. But as the post said, ‘the question is whether this chart can help your child with special needs overcome sleep issues, and I can’t answer that question. But, the chart could be a relatively innocuous and inexpensive way to address the issue.”

If an underlying cause has been identified, parents need to address it. If not, and parents suspect the problem can be solved with habit training, a sleep chart is a good starting place.

Jolene
Jolene on February 10, 2013 at 1:03 pm

Giulia,

Thanks so much for sharing your insights. You are absolutely correct to say that a sleep chart is not a magic cure for sleep issues in kids with special needs. As parents, we must avoid simplistic solutions and look for underlying conditions. But as the post said, ‘the question is whether this chart can help your child with special needs overcome sleep issues, and I can’t answer that question. But, the chart could be a relatively innocuous and inexpensive way to address the issue.”

If an underlying cause has been identified, parents need to address it. If not, and parents suspect the problem can be solved with habit training, a sleep chart is a good starting place.

Jolene
Giulia on February 10, 2013 at 7:23 am

Hello,
My two cents as an adult, who was a child before.

These charts are great to teach and motivate children, when they need to be taught what behavior is acceptable or not.

However, I am wary about such a chart as a blanket remedy for sleep problems.

For me, the first point is eliminating an underlying cause for such behaviors.
Is it a physical issue ? Is it a problem of understanding that we’ll see the parents on the morning ? is it a problem of sensory issues ?
If we implement such a chart without trying to know if there is an underlying cause for sleep issues, the best sleep chart and the best intentions won’t work for a long time.

Of course, a sleep routine and consistency are keys to sleep.
But a sleep routine and consistency won’t solve all the issues : if your child screams in the middle of the night because of pain by UTI, the best routine and the best sleep chart won’t fix the UTI causing the screaming in the middle of the night by pain.

I am also very wary about implementing a sleep chart as a cure all for sleep problems.
It’s very discouraging to try and try to do well only to be told that you never do well.

I am happy when a child responds well to a reward system.

To sum up, I think that a sleep chart can be a good system, but it’s not a panacea (a Greek word meaning “universal remedy”), and we cannot implement a sleep chart without trying to know first and foremost what are the underlying causes for sleep issues.
After all, a sleep chart won’t fix sleep apnea…
Giulia on February 10, 2013 at 7:23 am

Hello,
My two cents as an adult, who was a child before.

These charts are great to teach and motivate children, when they need to be taught what behavior is acceptable or not.

However, I am wary about such a chart as a blanket remedy for sleep problems.

For me, the first point is eliminating an underlying cause for such behaviors.
Is it a physical issue ? Is it a problem of understanding that we’ll see the parents on the morning ? is it a problem of sensory issues ?
If we implement such a chart without trying to know if there is an underlying cause for sleep issues, the best sleep chart and the best intentions won’t work for a long time.

Of course, a sleep routine and consistency are keys to sleep.
But a sleep routine and consistency won’t solve all the issues : if your child screams in the middle of the night because of pain by UTI, the best routine and the best sleep chart won’t fix the UTI causing the screaming in the middle of the night by pain.

I am also very wary about implementing a sleep chart as a cure all for sleep problems.
It’s very discouraging to try and try to do well only to be told that you never do well.

I am happy when a child responds well to a reward system.

To sum up, I think that a sleep chart can be a good system, but it’s not a panacea (a Greek word meaning “universal remedy”), and we cannot implement a sleep chart without trying to know first and foremost what are the underlying causes for sleep issues.
After all, a sleep chart won’t fix sleep apnea…
Katy on February 9, 2013 at 10:39 am

We have not really slept for 4 years. Or rather, slept very little. I’m sure there are so many of you who have the same story. So many challenges, so very little sleep. And sleep affects everything- our ability to communicate effectively the next day, staying focused in therapy, my husband and I and our marriage, our patience with our very sensitive and sensory boy. You really dont understand how important it is until you have none. 🙂 Now we not only have our son, but a sweet baby girl that the Lord has loaned to us. And something that was challenging enough on it’s own has become so overwhelming. How do we let our little girl learn to sleep without further interrupting our sweet boy’s rest?! He really does well with sticker charts and reward systems, so this might really be a great idea for him. And yes, I could probably make one, just like I made his potty chart. In between the laundry, and feedings, and meltdowns, and… scratch that 😉 maybe I’ll just enter to see if the Lord sends one our way? 😉
Katy on February 9, 2013 at 10:39 am

We have not really slept for 4 years. Or rather, slept very little. I’m sure there are so many of you who have the same story. So many challenges, so very little sleep. And sleep affects everything- our ability to communicate effectively the next day, staying focused in therapy, my husband and I and our marriage, our patience with our very sensitive and sensory boy. You really dont understand how important it is until you have none. 🙂 Now we not only have our son, but a sweet baby girl that the Lord has loaned to us. And something that was challenging enough on it’s own has become so overwhelming. How do we let our little girl learn to sleep without further interrupting our sweet boy’s rest?! He really does well with sticker charts and reward systems, so this might really be a great idea for him. And yes, I could probably make one, just like I made his potty chart. In between the laundry, and feedings, and meltdowns, and… scratch that 😉 maybe I’ll just enter to see if the Lord sends one our way? 😉
Kathleen on February 9, 2013 at 10:18 am

Would love to try this with my son. He is 12 and has autism. We have a difficult time with getting him to bed and keeping him in bed. Cognitively, he is more like a 3 year old and has limited language, so I think he might respond well to this type of chart. He has done well with a behavior chart at school.
Kathleen on February 9, 2013 at 10:18 am

Would love to try this with my son. He is 12 and has autism. We have a difficult time with getting him to bed and keeping him in bed. Cognitively, he is more like a 3 year old and has limited language, so I think he might respond well to this type of chart. He has done well with a behavior chart at school.
Rachel on February 8, 2013 at 10:53 pm

I’d love to win this chart to help my daughter with her sleeping issues and I think that even though she is visually impaired the smiley-face stickers would be tangible enough to motivate her.
Rachel on February 8, 2013 at 10:53 pm

I’d love to win this chart to help my daughter with her sleeping issues and I think that even though she is visually impaired the smiley-face stickers would be tangible enough to motivate her.
Jolene on February 8, 2013 at 12:47 pm

Thanks for your comment, Elizabeth. You are entered in the contest!

Jolene
Jolene on February 8, 2013 at 12:47 pm

Thanks for your comment, Elizabeth. You are entered in the contest!

Jolene
elizabeth contreras on February 8, 2013 at 11:02 am

I would love to have a new resource to help me with my 4 year old Prince on the spectrum. He has always been a challenge when it comes to bedtime. I am excited to read about this calendar & would love to try it with him. He gets up several times a night and is real crabby/whiney. We are going to attempt to transition him into his new big boy train bed soon. This would be a great aid & tool to use during this transition. Blessings!
elizabeth contreras on February 8, 2013 at 11:02 am

I would love to have a new resource to help me with my 4 year old Prince on the spectrum. He has always been a challenge when it comes to bedtime. I am excited to read about this calendar & would love to try it with him. He gets up several times a night and is real crabby/whiney. We are going to attempt to transition him into his new big boy train bed soon. This would be a great aid & tool to use during this transition. Blessings!