The alarm goes off and the morning “wake-up war” begins: you knock on your daughter’s bedroom door to wake her, then have to go back a zillion times to make sure she’s actually up, your voice rising with each “wake-up call,” and at this point you’re sure that you’ve now woken up the whole neighborhood.
You’re frustrated and annoyed...she’s still in bed and you’re contemplating pouring water on her face (no judgment here).
As predicted, she missed the bus and you have to take her to school again. One thing that you are positive about is June Cleaver on “Leave it to Beaver” was a complete fraud in so many ways.
What if I told you it wasn’t her fault?
In a new policy statement published online Aug. 25, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends "middle and high schools delay the start of class to 8:30 a.m. or later. Doing so will align school schedules to the biological sleep rhythms of adolescents, whose sleep-wake cycles begin to shift up to two hours later at the start of puberty”.
The Facts:
“The research is clear that adolescents who get enough sleep have a reduced risk of being overweight or suffering depression, are less likely to be involved in automobile accidents, and have better grades, higher standardized test scores and an overall better quality of life,” Dr. Owens said. “Studies have shown that delaying early school start times is one key factor that can help adolescents get the sleep they need to grow and learn.”
Reality:
Your daughter’s school starts before 8:30am (at least for now). Another reality is that if your teen is like most, they sleep with their phone either under their pillow or on their nightstand. Warning what I’m about to say may start a war: have a nighttime technology drop zone in your house. What is that? A central spot that ALL (yes, you too, we need you well rested) leave their laptops and Smartphone’s with ringer off (or even better, powered down, choose your battle) overnight.
Why?
Sleep researchers say that looking at a blue light, which is produced by Smartphone and tablet screens, sets off brain receptors that are designed to keep us awake and interferes with sleep patterns. Experimental research has found that if people use a tablet for up to two hours before bed, it takes an extra hour to fall asleep. It disturbs hormones in the body and let’s be real - they are disturbed enough already in a teenage body!
Another reason - we as human beings need to unplug and unwind, lead by example and set you and your teen up for a successful and less stressful school year.
~Julie Brower, Certified Teen Life Coach, Health Coach & Teen Yoga Teacher, has helped hundreds of teen girls gain knowledge, tools, confidence and courage to make decisions from a place of self-knowledge, self-respect and strength. Through one-on-one coaching, group workshops, events, parties and movement, Julie connects with girls on their level and gets results.