Studies have shown that the more autonomy teens have over their sleep, the less sleep they get. Sleep deprivation in teens is becoming an epidemic, leading to teens around the world becoming more irritable, concentrating less in school and reporting higher rates of depression and anxiety. During the school year, teens are forced to wake up earlier than their bodies would naturally like to and so the summer is a good chance to help them develop some healthy sleeping habits they can carry into the rest of the year. Do teens need more sleep than adults? Yes. Teens need around 8-10 hours of sleep. Not only that, but teens also feel tired and wake up much later than adults, falling asleep between 11-12 and waking up between 8-9. When kids hit puberty, their sleep cycle becomes delayed, and is increasingly so as puberty continues. It’s important to recognize this if you want to help your teen get the best sleep they can.What should I do to help? While some teens are able to take full ownership of their sleep and sleep well, this often isn’t the case. It’s a good idea to look out for signs that your teen might not be getting enough sleep (irritability, lack of concentration, daytime sleepiness) before implementing some rules to help them sleep better. Some of these could be:
Ultimately, your situation will be unique and so please use this information in a way that works best for you. The most important thing to remember is that sleep is vitally important and your teen needs enough of it. Try and make sure that happens this summer.
– Source: https://yourteenmag.com/health/physical-health/summer-sleep- schedules
