Teens do not get nearly the sleep that they need. They are often amped up on Red Bull or Monster drinks and do not see sleep as essential to their academic success or overall health. It is important for parents to stay plugged in to the sleep habits of their kids and to be aware of any factors that may contribute toward sleep deprivation. Many kids report not sleeping, and staying up until 2 AM, whether it be because they are using facebook, texting, watching t.v., playing X-box or whatever. These things grossly interfere with the physical, mental and emotional well-being of teens. They simply are not getting the rest that their bodies require to function at optimal levels. There are numerous scholars that have discussed the importance of sleep as it pertains to energy, mental acuity and ability to adapt to changing circumstances, among other elements. When teens make the connection between sleep and performance, or simply overall wellness they are more likely to maintain an awareness of its importance. Being able to say "no" to their peers is one of the hardest things for teens to do. I have found that when teenagers are able to say "no" to their peers and thus "yes" to their own needs, it opens up windows of possibilities that they feel are often taken away if they miss out on the endless and often useless online fodder that litters nightly communication among young people. Teens who get regular and long durations of sleep tend to be more alert and involved in school and have more effective interactions with both peers and adults during wakeful hours. Those teens who burn the midgnight oil are at risk for a whole host of difficulties starting mainly with low energy, low tolerance for mundane school tasks, difficulty managing stress, and difficulty banking knowledge ot memory. I urge all adults to support teens by sending along a message of the importance of sleep. Even if a teen blows it off as useless, even enough adults share the message, it just may sink in.
RemoCounseling.com
Psychologytoday.com
RemoCounseling.com
Psychologytoday.com
Teens do not see sleep as a valuable part of their existence. In fact, it is often perceived as getting in the way of having fun. Those kids who sleep on a regular basis are more likely to engage in pleasurable experiences than their counterparts who think that burning the midnight oil is the only way to live the high life.
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