Date Time For children, it’s not just about getting enough sleep Adequate sleep is key to good health, well-being and proper functioning across all life stages but is especially critical for children. Poor sleep can inhibit rapid growth and development in early childhood. Author Senior Research Fellow, James Cook University And it’s not just about sleep duration; the time one goes to bed also plays an important role in the physical, emotional, and cognitive development of children. A consistent early bedtime is especially important for young children transitioning from biphasic sleep (where children still nap during the day) to monophasic sleep (where sleep happens at night).