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Grabbing forty winks, taking a catnap, having a snooze - call it what you will – we all need it and we all do it.

As we sleep our heart rate drops, our muscles relax and our breathing slows as we respond less and less to the outside world. So what is going on?

Scientists use electroencephalography (EEG) to measure electrical brain activity during the five stages of sleep. When you fall asleep, you pass through stages 1 to 4 (the deepest level of sleep) as your brain becomes less active. You then go through the stages in reverse before 5 to 15 minutes of stage 5: rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. During REM sleep, your eyes dart about, your brain is frantically active and you dream. The whole cycle lasts about 90 minutes and repeats throughout the night. This is known as your sleep cycle.

Your waking/sleeping cycle is usually 24 hours long. If you were kept from knowing the time of day, this cycle would gradually lengthen to about 25 hours. So you must have your own internal body clock. Your body clock is related to an area of your brain called the hypothalamus, part of which is directly connected to your eyes. Scientists have found genes that affect the body clock: animals with faulty 'clock' genes have different sleep/waking cycles.  This may also account for why some people are ‘larks’ whilst others are ‘owls’.

So why do we dream? During non-dreaming sleep the brain probably rests and recovers from the wear and tear of wakefulness. But it does not like being unconscious for too long and needs periodic stimulation to keep it in tune. REM sleep and dreaming provides the stimulation it needs in short bursts, without disturbing the continuity of sleep.

Useful websites:

Why do we sleep?
http://www.open2.net/labrats/sleep_science.htm

Sleeping and dreaming
http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/exhibitions/brain/130.asp

What do dreams mean?
http://www.lboro.ac.uk/departments/hu/groups/
sleep/dreams.htm

Where dreams are made
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/
0,3604,1301357,00.html

Scenario for older children

This is taken from
http://ncnc.essortment.com/slumberparty_rbcm.htm

Spa party

You will need:

What to do:

  1. The party area can be set up in "stations" - hair washing, hair styling, pedicure, manicure, makeup, and food. Ambience is important for this party. Once the stations are set up, arrange candles around the area to be used and play some relaxing classical or nature-based music. The beauty magazines can be placed near the different stations for easy reference.
  2. Don't forget to take a BEFORE picture of each girl as she arrives and an AFTER picture when the festivities are over. Of course, DURING pictures may also be taken. These photos will be a great reminder of a wonderful party!
  3. Once all guests have arrived, all names should be put into a hat. Each girl will draw a name to choose a partner with whom to work. Each girl will take a turn as both a beautician and a client. Then girls can circulate through the different stations, washing and styling hair, giving pedicures and manicures, and applying makeup.
  4. Alternatively have a notebook and pen at each station where the girls can ‘book in’ and make appointments.
  5. Food can be supplied throughout the party, with girls helping themselves as they wish.

Party Sleepover idea for YOUNGER kids:

Idea taken from
http://www.boardmanweb.com/party/slumber.html

On the invitation tell each guest to bring nightwear, slippers, cuddly toy, sleeping bag, pillow, toothbrush, comb and that they get a prize for bringing it all.

You will need:

Slips of paper that say

  1. Lay your sleeping bag flat on the bedroom floor
  2. Put your pillow on the top of the sleeping bag
  3. Put your cuddly toy on your sleeping bag
  4. Put on your nightwear and slippers
  5. Brush your teeth
  6. Brush your hair
  7. Lay inside sleeping bag

What to do:

  1. Make a set of slips for each child at the party.  Fold the slips in two and write the number and the name of the child on the back.
  2. The youngsters have to find the slip of paper that has a 1. on it and do what it says, then run back to the person holding the slips and find the no 2. slip....etc.... 
The prize for this, as each one finishes, is a bag filled with a piece of fruit, a drink box or bottle of water, a pen or pencil and a small address book.
They can exchange numbers with all their friends and have a place to put it, plus when they get thirsty- you've already provided their drink.

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