Adolescent Sleep Cycle

Your teen drags himself out of bed at the crack of dawn and heads off to school. You notice that he seems tired all the time and wonder if it's harming his health. You are right to be concerned. According to the American Psychological Association, sleep deprivation in teens is a growing health problem. Sending him to bed early may not be the answer.

  1. Sleep Deprivation in Teens

    • The APA points out that sleep deprivation can cause symptoms similar to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The National Highway Safety Administration points out that drowsy driving can be as big a threat as driving while intoxicated. The highest risk group for drowsy driving is young men between the ages of 16 and 29. In addition, just as is the case with adults, lack of sleep affects your teen̵7;s emotions, making him moody or angry.

    Teen Changes to Sleep

    • Every parent knows that as your teen̵7;s body goes through puberty there are major hormonal shifts. One of these shifts is in the secretion of melatonin, a sleep-regulating hormone. Your teen still makes the chemical; however, she secretes it later in the evening. This means that even though you may send your child to bed at 9:30, she may still be wide awake at midnight. Unfortunately, your teen needs about nine hours of sleep every night. This means that if you allow her to wake up naturally she will rise around 9:00 in the morning.

    Challenges to Teen Sleep

    • Your teen̵7;s sleep cycle may be changing, but the rest of the world doesn̵7;t. So while your teen may get his best sleep between 1:00 and 10:00 in the morning, school and work still start earlier. In addition, more social activities, after-school and evening sports and homework all push your teen to stay awake later in the evening.

    What Parents Can Do

    • Talk to your local school board or PTA about changing school start times. Talk to your teen about her schedule and make sure that she has plenty of time for rest. Take the television out of your teen̵7;s room. The Mayo Clinic tells parents that the flickering light of the television disrupts sleep cycles. Toward that end, keep lights dim in the evening and immediately flood the teen̵7;s room with natural sunlight in the morning. This can help regulate your teen̵7;s melatonin production. Finally, keep caffeine away from your teen. The chemical further disrupts your teen̵7;s sleep cycle. This includes both coffee and energy drinks.

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