If there ever is a constant about any teenager, it is that there will be issues around sleep. You mean that you thought you were done when you got your child to sleep through the night, somewhere back in the mists of time? No, you are not.
Now teenagers have a whole range of different problems with sleep than they ever had as a baby. But the 2 major issues are 1) going to sleep at a reasonable hour and 2) getting up in time to go to school. These morph into having enough rest in order not to fall asleep at school!!!
The teenage circadian clock is totally out of whack with the internal time clocks of any adult living around it. It's also totally out of synchronization with the time that they need to be in school! At 7 am, both of my kids would much rather be snuggled under the blankets than getting ready to go to school.
But at 10 pm? Neither of them is ready to go to sleep! Have you ever tried to tell a teenager to go to sleep? It's a lesson in futility! What you get back is lots of lip and a bunch of obstinateness- but they are nowhere near falling asleep! On the rare occasion, though, they actually listen to you. Then they are out like a light soon after and able to be nice to people all day. Did I forget to mention one of the other problems with a lack of sleep? It turns Rose into a screaming meanie!
Get them up early several days in a row (try these techniques)and after a bit you may catch them yawning by 10 PM.
Posted by: suburbancorrespondent | September 30, 2008 at 07:37 AM
Of course, it may not be worth the effort.
Posted by: suburbancorrespondent | September 30, 2008 at 07:37 AM
My son gets up at 6:30, takes a shower, takes a nap (yes, a nap) gets dressed, eats & leaves for school at 7:30. Asked why he doesn't sleep 15 to 20 minutes later and skip the nap, he replied "you always need to lie down and rest after you shower." Is this weird or what?
Posted by: Nancy | September 30, 2008 at 09:34 AM
Research shows again and again that teens' circadian clock is simply wired like a night owl. When will schools listen? I wouldn't mind starting my (elementary) day earlier and send my teen later.
Posted by: Daisy | September 30, 2008 at 05:20 PM
Our school district tried to switch the bell schedule for the elementary kids to start early and high school teens to start late for this very reason-teens circadian clock. The parents fought and won the switch because the parents needed the high school kids home earlier in order to babysit the elementary aged siblings! aarrgh!
Posted by: Kim | September 30, 2008 at 09:00 PM
I just heard an interesting lecture by Dr. Mark Rosekind about the importance of sleep in general and especially for teens. I wrote about it on my blog and linked to his website. I've been even more diligent about guarding my kids bedtime (9 for the 13 yo and 10 for the 15 yo) My daughter's school enacted 1 day late start per week. It is a great idea! My blog is http://tangerinetimes.com/
Posted by: Myrna | October 11, 2008 at 02:00 AM