Teenagers and Sleep Deprivation

Your Teenager's Health Series : Teenagers and Sleep Deprivation

Many of our teenagers are not getting the sleep they need to stay healthy. Many are falling asleep in class, driving while sleepy, and even falling asleep while doing homework. Studies show that only 20% of our teenagers are getting the sleep they need. Sleep deprivation affects all areas of a teen’s life.

Teens not getting enough sleep are more prone to depression, have more impaired driving, and are more likely to get lower grades. There are startling statistics that give us a pause as parents of teenagers. Here are a few of those statistics.

Nearly 30 percent of teenagers say they are too tired to exercise

Most parents believe their teenager is getting the proper amount of sleep

Teenagers who don’t get the sleep they need get lower grades

Over 30 percent of our teenagers have two or more caffeinated drinks a day which affects sleep

Electronics in the bedroom are a sleep detriment

Over 50 % of our teens admits to driving while drowsy

Oversleeping is the primary cause of missing school or arriving late

Teenagers who don’t receive enough sleep at night report they are unhappy, tense, and nervous

These statistics are alarming especially the statistics on driving! This not only affects the teenagers but also others are in danger as well. Is society partly to blame? Over 50% of today’s teenagers go to bed at 11PM or later and many have to get up by at least 6:30 to get ready for school. It’s perfectly natural for a teenager to feel more productive and alert later at night. That means they want to sleep later in the mornings.

Unfortunately, in many school districts that are consolidated it means our teens have to get up even earlier to catch the school bus. They may have a 30-minute ride to school and often times it is longer.

Some school districts have made some concessions and changed starting time for school to be later. This allows those students that have to travel a distance to get to school, a little extra time to sleep in the morning.

How can parents help insure their teenager is getting the proper amount of sleep? They first have to be aware of their sleep deprivation. The statistic that says 90% of parents believe their teenager is getting the needed sleep is an indication they need to know what their teens are doing when they are supposed to be sleeping.

It is important for parents to question their teens about their sleep habits. Be alert, if your teenager is having a hard time getting out of bed in the morning you should ask them about their sleep habits. Most teenagers getting enough sleep should be able to get up without too much prodding. If it seems harder to get your teen up, you should find out why.

The mention of electronics in the bedroom is one indication a teen is probably not getting enough sleep. If they have a computer in their room, television, Internet, and using the telephone these too keep a teenager awake. Your teen needs to be told that drinking caffeine can keep them awake at night and not to drink a drink with caffeine after noon.

Keep a regular schedule both through the week and on weekends. Teens should have at least nine hours in bed each night.

Sleep deprivation also has negative impact on emotions, risky behavior, and fluctuating emotions. It’s important to recognize the lack of sleep in our children and help them make changes as early in their teens as possible.

Many schools are trying to help the sleep problem by educating pre-teens and grade school children on the importance of getting enough sleep. Teaching the importance of sleep to high school biology classes is another way to educate our teens about the importance of sleeping. A children’s book discusses why the brain needs a good nights sleep.

Parents can help their child grow up to be teenagers who get enough sleep by being consistent in their bedtimes. While they are small, if you teach them the importance of getting enough sleep, you will likely have fewer problems when they are teenagers.