Healthy School Start Times
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Adolescent sleep pattern:
Adolescents, beginning at the onset of puberty and through their teenage years, have a unique sleep cycle. Their internal biological clock ( technically known as circadian rhythm) is different from that of pre-adolescents and adults. Why? The sleep-inducing hormone, melatonin, is secreted by their brains hours later in the evening, and it remains in their system hours later in the morning. This delayed sleep cycle results in a teenager's natural preference for falling asleep to be at 11:00 pm and their natural wake time to be at 8:00 am. Trying to put your teen to bed early does not work. Waking them up early for school is beyond their control. Lack of sleep accumulates into an unhealthy state of being. How can we expect them to function this way?
Experts say that teenagers need around 9 hours of sleep each night. Any less, on a daily basis, will result in chronic sleep deprivation. This is detrimental to your teenager's health and well-being.
Consequences of chronic sleep loss, specifically for teenagers:
•Dual tasks become difficult; such as thinking and solving problems while navigating
emotional reactions
•Tasks that require planning, strategy, or a complex sequence of steps are more difficult
•Decreased athletic and motor skills
•Divergent thinking (brainstorming) suffers
•Reduced short-term memory
•Increased risk of unintentional injuries, e.g., “drowsy driving”
•Increased risk of alcohol and drug use
•Negative moods
•THE BRAIN'S ABILITY TO LEARN NEW INFORMATION IS DIMINISHED
Benefits of Adequate Sleep, made possible when schools start at 8:30 am or later:
•Less depressive feelings
•Fewer disciplinary actions
•Fewer visits to the school nurse
•Fewer relationship problems with parents and peers
•Improved grades
•Improved attendence and decreased tardiness
•Increase in students eating breakfast
•STUDENTS WILL ARRIVE AT SCHOOL WHEN THEY ARE MOST LIKELY TO BE ALERT AND READY TO LEARN
Isn't this exactly what we expect from them in school?
"My teenager is awake so late at night doing homework/playing sports/practicing his instrument/watching TV, and that is why he /she cannot get up in the morning." Not really...