Dream On is an innovative and holistic program aimed at promoting positive bedtime experiences and healthy sleep in preschoolers and elementary school-aged children with neurodevelopmental delays and behavioral sleep problems. Behavioral sleep problems in children may present as bedtime refusal or resistance, delayed sleep onset, nighttime wakings, nighttime fears, cosleeping, and daytime sleepiness. This may lead to decreased quantity and quality of sleep and also impact children’s executive functioning skills, behaviors, health, and overall wellbeing. Furthermore, sleep problems in children can have a detrimental influence on the entire family’s well-being. Thorough literature reviews were conducted to determine the contributing factors that lead to behavioral sleep problems in children and to ascertain which nonpharmacological interventions are impactful in improving sleep in children with neurodevelopmental delays. Dream On is a theory-driven parent program that is customizable to each child. Parents will participate in six 45-minute modules, one-on-one with the program creator either in person or online. A variety of evidence-based strategies will be offered incorporated from the following: parent education and parent training, sleep hygiene, behavioral interventions, mindfulness-based interventions, sensory-based strategies, and doll therapy. During a pilot program of Dream On, program evaluation will be performed, measuring changes in children’s sleep, executive functioning, sensory processing, and functional skills. Interviews will also be conducted following program implementation to gain insight into the parent perspective and experience of Dream On. The doctoral project includes detailed plans for program evaluation, funding, and dissemination. / 2024-08-31T00:00:00Z
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bu.edu/oai:open.bu.edu:2144/45066 |
| Date | 26 August 2022 |
| Creators | Wolf, Maya |
| Contributors | Duddy, Karen, Jacobs, Karen |
| Source Sets | Boston University |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis/Dissertation |
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