How much does your middler sleep? According to an article linked here from the Child Mind Institute, most teenagers are sleep deprived.

From the article...

"We know that the radical changes that occur in adolescence, including tremendous hormonal shifts and significant brain development, affect teenage behavior. But the physical, mental and behavioral consequences of chronic sleep deprivation are profound, too. With studies showing that 60 to 70% of American teens live with a borderline to severe sleep debt, we need to know how going without their recommended (optimal) nine hours a night affects them.

Sleep deprivation puts teenagers into a kind of perpetual cloud or haze, explains Dr. Mary Carskadon, a professor of psychiatry at Brown University and director of chronobiology and sleep research at Bradley Hospital in Rhode Island. “One of the metaphors I use is that it’s like having an astigmatism. You don’t realize how bad your vision is until you get glasses or in this case, good sleep.” That haze, she says, can negatively affect teenager’s mood, ability to think, to react, to regulate their emotions, to learn and to get along with adults."

As we move into the new year and consider setting resolutions or establishing expectations at home, let's think about how we can assist our teens with their sleep. Here are ten tips from AAST, a community of sleep-care professionals. 

1. Make your teen's bedroom a quiet place. 

2. Recommend a hot soak before bed. 

3. Consider blacking out their windows at night. 

4. Get them in the habit of bringing light in when they wake. 

5. Get your teen to "chill out" before bedtime.

6. If they're sick, put them to bed.

7. Consider giving them high-carb snacks if they have trouble falling asleep.

8. Try a night scent.

9. Set rules of no caffeine before bed time. 

10. Talk with your child about items that may be impacting their sleep and causing them to worry.