Forty Winks

Summer is over for lots of kids tomorrow and rapidly coming for the rest of our school-age population. Getting back to schedules after three months off is always a little challenging at first. Going to bed early and getting up and out is particularly difficult.

As we have discussed here before, teens body clocks are not tuned to the current academic timetable. They would rather stay up late and sleep even later. Getting your teenager out of bed and out the door for their first hour class is not a fun start to the day.

They just must get used to settling in and gong to bed at a decent hour Kids do require at least 8 hours sleep. Here's one tip to get them on road to a little more shut eye.

In a recent radio interview with some of the top national authorities on sleep, it was stated that parents who allow their teens to stay up after midnight are at risk of their teens showing increased levels of depression and suicidal thoughts.

Teens’ sleep requirements don’t change as they move from middle school to high school – high schoolers need just as much sleep even though they tend to have increased levels of activities and commitments. But there is a biological change that as they get older kids will find the time when it is easiest to go to sleep moving to later in the evening. This clearly works in conflict with most school systems in which the high school day begins very early. They must train themselves to relax and rest earlier.

There is a science behind teens’ sleep needs. The most recent research and advice about what parents can do to help fix the sleep problem? Simple. Stop texting and go to sleep. Phones and lights and computers need to be turned off. Prepare the room and your child's body will get the signal that it is time to rest.

Good luck with this. I know the concept won't be easily agreed to by your teen. Those phones are an extension of their hand, their arm, their mouth and their brain. Downloaded music plays constantly. Facebook is a 24 hour a day commitment. Yes, but school and getting there, rested and ready to learn should be a bigger one. Good Luck!! chrissie