| It is probably safe to say that most parents are | | | | good sleep patterns if we want to affect the |
| more concerned about the dating/drug/drinking | | | | sleep habits of teenagers. We can't expect them |
| etc habits rather than the sleep habits of | | | | to listen to us if we are not willing to make sleep |
| teenagers these days. While those are absolutely | | | | a priority in our own lives. We have to practice |
| critical areas to be dealt with in the lives of our | | | | what we preach and make sure we are not only |
| nations teens, we might need to move sleep up | | | | getting to bed and sleeping the necessary number |
| on the priority list a bit. How our teens deal with | | | | of hours, but that we are watching things like |
| sleep not only affects their performance in school, | | | | caffeine intake and other habits that impact the |
| but their health, mental well being and a host of | | | | quality of sleep or the ability to fall asleep. |
| other issues. It effects more than most parents | | | | We need to be careful about knee jerk reactions |
| realize. | | | | though. It is tempting in our society to try to fix |
| The fact is that most teens suffer from a | | | | everything with things like medicines which |
| serious deficit in their sleep. Not only do most | | | | address symptoms but not root causes. It may |
| teens fail to get enough hours of sleep their | | | | be easy to turn to sleep medicines and the like, |
| bodies tend to need more sleep than your typical | | | | but that will not help teen sleep deprivation long |
| adult. This double hit on their bodies creates | | | | term and they carry their own set of side |
| serious issues. Many recent studies show that | | | | effects. We first need to address our lifestyles |
| teen sleep deprivation is at an all time high...and its | | | | and make changes there before we consider |
| costing both them and us. | | | | outside interventions into our sleeping patterns. If |
| Teen sleep deprivation is causing not only poor | | | | after making adjustments our kids are still having |
| performance at school, but is contributing to | | | | trouble sleeping then we should probably consider |
| higher rates of mental issues like depression and | | | | natural alternatives like supplements that are |
| ADHD. Scientists that study sleep have noticed | | | | designed to aid the natural sleep process as |
| that lack of sleep is a large factor in the | | | | opposed to drugs. Either way, consult a |
| development of these disorders and affects | | | | knowledgeable medical professional before |
| mental development in a variety of ways. The | | | | considering one of these options. |
| more consistently our children fail to get enough | | | | It is may not be easy to adjust the sleep habits |
| rest the higher their risk. | | | | of teenagers. Teens are not known for |
| Making up for it on the weekend doesn't really | | | | cooperating with parents or adults in general, but |
| work either. According to sleep researchers this | | | | it is worth the attempt. There is too much at |
| actually produces poor quality sleep at best, the | | | | stake to just let things continue as they always |
| kind of sleep that fails to fully recharge the body | | | | have. |
| or produce the necessary health benefits that | | | | Where the sleep habits of teenagers are good we |
| consistent, quality sleep generates. | | | | need to encourage that, where they are lacking |
| We need to be serious about addressing the sleep | | | | we need to try to encourage better patterns. We |
| habits of teenagers from the start. It is important | | | | need to practice them ourselves and we need to |
| that we work with teens and other parents to | | | | help them see the benefits. Even uncooperative |
| help them understand the benefits of sleep and | | | | kids will think twice about something if you are |
| the risks for not getting enough of it. Sleep | | | | clear about what's in it for them...you just have to |
| affects everything from energy to cognitive | | | | tailor the approach for the teen. We need to start |
| ability to immune and mental health. Cutting | | | | today, the problem is getting worse with each |
| corners here is not worth the fall out. | | | | night that passes by. |
| However, it starts with us. We need to model | | | | |