Teenagers and Rest

With school about to begin, your children's lives are about to kick into overdrive. They have school, homework, band, sports, jobs, and church. As parents, one thing that you can do to help your children succeed is to make sure they get enough sleep. Check out these facts:

• Teens need more sleep than their younger siblings
• Teens need 8 to 9 hours of sleep a night
• Teens are more alert later in the day


• The following tips are taken from "Wake Up! Teens Need Sleep" by Tonya Hayes.
1. Try to keep your child from napping during the day. This may inhibit them from falling asleep at night. Decreasing caffeine intake also helps.
2. Establish a bedtime routine. Chose a time that works well for you and your teens and stick to it.
3. Model and respect healthy sleep. Avoid turning up the TV or hitting the treadmill after your children hit the bed.
4. Promote an overall healthy lifestyle. Regular exercise and a healthy diet help teens sleep better.