The bottom line
Teens, in general, are famous for staying up late in the evening and then being hard to wake up in the morning. As parents, understanding why our teenagers fall into this type of sleep pattern (just as we did when we were their age) helps us offer compassionate advice from a more informed place.
How can a parent help?
· Keep the lights dim at night as bedtime approaches (sending a natural signal for melatonin “to get sleepy”).
· Get into bright light as soon as possible in the morning.
· Playing catch-up with sleep doesn’t really help (may confuse internal clock even more).
· Don’t force bedtime (as they may lie awake for hours).
· According to Tel Aviv Professor Avi Sadeh, “A good student may actually benefit more from an extra hour of sleep than an extra hour of study.”
· Talk to your teen and explain how they should aim for 9 hours of sleep each night.
· Have compassion and understanding for their natural rhythms.
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