I had a friend over today with her newborn baby and of course the conversation turned to sleep as it often does when you have a baby. Thankfully we were both actually sharing stories about how if a baby is only up once during the night and gives you six or seven hours straight sleep you can pretty much cope with anything in the day. I was fortunate to experience this with Erin, my youngest. However some 15 years ago the story was very different as Chloe was not a good sleeper and these days I remind her often of what she put me through. I was that parent who tried everything to settle the baby and resorted to sleeping with her in our bed.
It is a slight twist of nature that you can get your own back when the baby turns to a teen. Then it is your turn to wake them by hoovering outside their door and putting the music on! Teenagers are notorious for sleeping around the clock and it is because there bodies are going through hormonal changes. Sleep is vital for our wellbeing – it is as important as food and water. Many studies suggest that teenagers don’t get enough sleep and will find themselves struggling at school and their concentration will be affected as a result. Teenagers often have haphazard sleep patterns and don’t stick to a regular bedtime routine and this affects the bodies natural clock.
If your teen is struggling with lack of concentration and is tired there are ways to help. As a teacher it is often easy to spot those that don’t get enough sleep. Getting enough sleep is vital especially during exam season and there are things that we can do as parents and responsible adults.
1. Make rooms suitable for sleep. Use blackout curtains if needed especially if summer evenings stop you sleeping. Also tidy bedrooms often help as it is more calming.
2. Reduce caffeine a few hours before bedtime, that means fizzy drinks like Coke aswell as tea or coffee.
3. Establish a bedtime. Sticking to a routine helps the body reset itself.
4. If snoring is an issue and disturbs sleep try the snorewizard to get a better nights rest.
5. Don’t leave homework or exercise until close to bedtime as it will stimulate the brain and it can be harded to switch off.
6. Turn off devices at night. I didn’t allow Chloe to take her devices to her room at bedtime – these days she does but she turns them off. As a teacher I am amazed at how many teens keep them on all night and actually respond to messages too. There is no way I would take mine to bed I like sleep too much!
A good nights sleep means that teens will benefit in so many ways. They will feel better and have less mood swings. Additionally they will have better skin and generally feel healthier, good sleep will give them better immunity to fight everyday germs which again can only make them feel better. I am lucky really as Chloe now loves sleeping and she doesn’t burn the candle at both ends. This may change over the next few years but for now she seems to have the balance between school work, hockey and sleeping just right.
One Response
Really wish my son had got his sleep sorted. I try to remember to confiscate his devices at night, but I don’t always remember! He’s often still awake at 11.30, so needless to say he struggles to get up at 7.30;