Is Your Teen Sleeping Too Much?

Around the time of their teenage years, your teen will probably will either want to stay up late and sleep less, or it's most likely that your teen could also be sleeping more than they should. Either way, these sleeping schedules will result in excessive sleep. As their bodies are still growing, they need proper rest to stay healthy.

When you loose sleep, your body's immune system weakens. When my sleeping schedule is not how it should be- I feel weak and tired constantly. To where all I want to do is sleep. As you may have experienced this yourself- Your teens are probably experiencing it too.

The difference is, when you, as an adult are not on a proper sleeping schedule, you don't hear mom and dad complaining about how you need to sleep right. As adults, we really have no choice as to sleep all day- unless we want to get fired from our jobs, or in a car wreck. But if your teen is over sleeping, most likely they do have mom and dad worrying. Take advantage of this, as a parent, and help your teen get on a good sleeping schedule.

Some good ideas to get your teen to go to bed on an earlier time than usual, would be to- Turn off all lights or TV 1 hour before going to bed, as the TV can trigger your brain to want to stay up later, or not to drink any caffeinated drinks after 5 PM, as drinking caffeinated drinks will spark your system to want to stay up later as well. I would suggest drinking some hot milk, and take a hot bath before going to bed, or reading a book, as these ideas may calm and soothe you to get ready to go to bed.

Lack of sleep or too much sleep can also effect your teen's grades. Both can cause your teen loose concentration during school, sports, and activities. This is why you should help your teen maintain a good sleeping schedule-

A good start would to be keeping your teen busy. When I was in high school, one of the things I often looked forward to was going home and straight to my bed to take a nap. As I switched to a school that did not have a volleyball team- I did not have an activity to do after school. Keeping your teen motivated is important. Even if it's just going for a walk; You should find things to keep your teen busy. Examples of such activities could be: taking them out for awhile, going for a walk around the neighborhood, finding some kind of class/sport for your teen to take part in, etc.

It's important for your teens growing and balance that you keep them busy instead of letting them sleep all day. This really effects your teenagers more than you know. Having a good schedule and routine takes a great part in keeping your teen motivated as well. This way, they know that they can't just come home and sleep. And if they do, not very long; due to places to go and things to see.

One problem that often occurs is not waking up, but actually going to bed. If your teen strains them self to stay up- his/her body will make a routine of that same schedule daily. After a little while, you will probably see a difference in your teens grades, and the length of how long they might sleep.

After a while of getting your teen motivated his/her body will adapt to the new schedule. On an average it takes 14 days to get on a good schedule.