Sleep habits

Teenagers have a natural shift in sleep patterns leading them to want a later bed time. However,  teenagers are going through a second  developmental stage of cognitive maturation and they need their sleep for their developing brain, as well as physical growth spurts. 

How much sleep do they need?  Teenagers 13 to 18 years of age should sleep 8 to 10 hours per day

Benefits of getting the recommend sleep

• improved attention, behavior, learning, memory, emotional regulation, quality of life, and mental and physical health. 

Risks of not getting the recommended sleep hours

• increases the risk of accidents, injuries, hypertension, obesity, diabetes, and depression

• insufficient sleep in teenagers is associated with increased risk of self-harm, suicidal thoughts, and suicide attempts. 

- American Academy of Sleep Medicine