Does your teen look tired all day? Or does he sleep all day especially on weekends? These are concerns common to parents of all teens. Teens tend to be active during the night and as a result get less sleep and look drowsy all day. There are many reasons for this, the main one being a shift in your teen’s internal clock. Sleeping late to socialize and on days before exams can upset your teen’s internal clock thereby depriving him of sufficient sleep.
Social occasions, homework, exams, friends and part time jobs are some factors that may cause teens to sleep late. The need to wake u early for school gives them less sleep than the 8-9 hours they require. Sleeping less not only makes them drowsy but also has health implications.
As a parent there are some things that you may take care of in order to ensure adequate sleep for your teen. They are:
Bedroom lighting: Dim room lights at night and have bright lights in the morning. This will work as signals for sleep at night and waking up in the morning.
Enforce a sleep schedule on your teen and follow it even on weekends. Place restrictions on extra curricular activities and social events late in the night.
Do not put a TV, music player or a computer in your teen’s room.
Educate your teen about the effects of caffeine at night and that it is a strict no-no.
Take time to gradually chart a bedtime routine for your teen and make sure you monitor and follow up on his sleep habits. A good night’s sleep is vital for charging up for the next day of school.