Sleep Tips for Tired Teens
Sleep Tips for Tired Teens
If pushing your sleepy teenager to wake up in the mornings has become a normal part of your daily routine, don’t fret. As children begin to mature into adults, expect to encounter changes in your child’s sleeping patterns. Later nights, shorter sleep times and waking up in the middle of the night are all normal behavioral changes that occur during puberty and adolescence. It’s important to sit down with your child to discuss ways they can understand and prioritize sleep.
It’s natural!
Your child may become frustrated with not being able to fall asleep at night and waking up at irregular times during sleep. Explain that these changes are normal and just part of the process of growing up. Studies show that getting to sleep in adolescents can be significantly delayed by an average of 50 minutes, and sleep time can be shortened by over half an hour.
Don’t be afraid to make changes.
Help your child understand the importance of sleep and the factors that play a critical part in getting good quality sleep. In order to get the best sleep, encourage your child to limit screen time before bed, avoid drinking caffeinated sodas and other sugary drinks prior to sleep, and limit exercise and other strenuous physical activities to at least four hours before bedtime. You can also install blackout curtains and remove TVs and other monitors to limit the amount of blue light in the bedroom.
Learn how sleep can affect academic performance.
Taking the time to understand sleep early on will be beneficial to your child’s performance as they journey through their academic and professional careers. Without sleep, your growing adolescent may experience mood, concentration, memory and sleep issues that can affect their success and overall personal performance.
For help addressing sleep issues that may be an underlying factor in your teenager’s performance, please contact our expert team of certified sleep specialists at (678) 990-3962 to set up a consultation appointment. We would love to help you and your child find a sleep solution that fits your needs.