Abstract
This qualitative study explores children's perceptions of sleep and sleep habits. Using purposive sampling, in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with twelve generally healthy preschool children aged five and six (seven girls, five boys) undergoing typical development. ATLAS.ti was used to manage the data. Thematic analysis of the interview transcripts identified eight key themes: (1) Sleep behaviour, (2) Dreams, (3) Feelings upon waking, (4) Daytime functioning, (5) Facial appearance, (6) Sleep environment, (7) Bedtime routines, and (8) Sleep resistance and midnight awakenings. The findings suggest that young children have a foundational understanding of sleep and its associated habits. Therefore, sleep education programs should consider children's perspectives to ensure that information is relevant and meaningful for them.
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