Check Your Children Sleep Rate

A story of a girl who appeared to be the top in her class academically, also excelled in athletics and seemed to be loved by her peers. As life continued, she began to feel lethargic and anxious and started to isolate herself from people. Nobody knew the cause for her recent change until they found out that their daughter often went to bed after midnight and woke early to study. She got less than 6 hours sleep and this started to deplete her mental health as well as her physical health.

This story explains how parents want their children to succeed, but wasn't in a healthy way. Sleep is the key to attaining this goal. Teens may not understand hoe much rest they need and why sleep is essential for their mental and emotional health.

WHY SLEEP IS IMPORTANT

Children need 8-10 hours of sleep each night. Less than 10% of teens sleep at least 9 hours at night. They get engaged in activities such as pressing digital devices like mobile phones, play games, watch movies, etc.

Beyond the more obvious symptoms, such as grumpiness, impaired memory and physical performance, not getting enough sleep can affect a teen's ability to make healthy decisions. In adolescence, the chemical and biological changes in their bodies lead them to desire risk-taking and sensation-offering experiences, such as the thrill that comes from quickly accelerating while driving a car. The lack of sleep decreases a teen's ability to understand cause-and-effect or think through choices. It can also lead to a teen's inability to adjust to or recover from challenging life events. Additionally, too-little sleep in adolescents increases the risk of high blood pressure and heart disease, Type 2 diabetes and obesity. It's also linked to a higher risk of mental illness, particularly depression and anxiety.

Parents should help their children practice healthier sleep habits by making them obtain more sleep they need. t's no surprise that using electronics (television, video games or devices that allow texting, internet surfing or social media) can be a major culprit when it comes to delaying bedtime and preventing teens from winding down at night. Some teens spend too many night hours talking, texting, Snapchatting, Instagramming or tweeting friends. The constant stimulus from screens makes it harder for them to fall asleep or sleep deeply.

To counter that, set parameters around technology and evening routines. Your children can leave their digital devices in your room at night before going to bed. Biological development also can make bedtimes challenging as teens' circadian rhythms begin to naturally change and they don't feel tired until later at night. Parents can help adolescents by initiating nightly habits, such as a cup of hot herbal tea before bed or spending a few moments together reading or in prayer. Unwinding at night is a process, so teens should tackle challenging homework earlier when possible. Finally, don't underestimate the power of setting a positive example. We, too, need to get enough rest so our teens can see that sleep is an essential part of living a healthy life.