The Effects of a Forest Kindergarten Program on the Sleep Habits of Preschool Children

• Main Authors: Byeong-il Choi, Jangho Park, Hye-Rym Kim, Hyo-Won Kim, Seockhoon Chung
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korean Society of Sleep Medicine 2014-06-01
• Series: Sleep Medicine Research
• Subjects: Forest kindergarten; Preschool child; Sleep; Daytime sleepiness
• Online Access: http://www.sleepmedres.org/upload/pdf/smr-5-1-15.pdf

Background and Objective It has been reported that preschool children attending a forest kindergarten had a more balanced development in the physical, emotional, and cognitive areas. We evaluated the effects of the forest kindergarten program on the sleep habits of preschool children. Methods Thirty-seven children (n = 18 in the forest kindergarten, n = 19 in a regular kindergarten) participated in this study. Parents of the children completed a Children’s Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ) at the initial assessment, and the CSHQ was repeated after 8 months of attending the kindergarten program. Results There were no significant differences between groups in terms of the CSHQ total and subscale measures at the initial assessment. After 8 months enrollment in a kindergarten program, the CSHQ total score (p < 0.01), the subscale scores of sleep disordered breathing (p = 0.04), and daytime sleepiness (p < 0.01) were significantly lower in children attending the forest kindergarten compared with those at the regular kindergarten. Within the forest kindergarten group, the total CSHQ score (p = 0.02) and the daytime sleepiness subscale score (p = 0.02) significantly decreased after 8 months in the program. Conclusions Preschool children who are educated in forest kindergarten programs had less problematic sleep habits and daytime sleepiness compared with children in the regular kindergarten program. Forest kindergarten programs may positively influence daytime sleepiness in children.