What you’ll reap with a good night’s sleep
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Did you know that 70% of teenagers are sleep deprived?
It is a stunning statistic and has major consequences for learning and academic performance along with the mental and emotional health of all young people at a crucial point in their lives.
Northern Beaches Council recently held a Sleep and Technology workshop to raise awareness about the benefits of healthy sleep habits and the dangers the online world can pose.
At the workshop, leading sleep experts highlighted the need to focus on sleep health as medical professionals become increasingly aware of the relationship between sleep deprivation and poor academic performance and psychological problems.
Experts agree that lack of sleep becomes a more pressing problem at this time of the year as students prepare for end of year exams and assessment.
They say that insufficient sleep in children and teenagers can arise because of bad habits as well as physical/biological and psychological factors.
Unhealthy habits that can affect sleep patterns include using electronic devices too close to bedtime, studying too late and sensory overload from multi-tasking on smart phones or other devices.
Parents can help their children by encouraging them to create a regular sleep and wake routine and coaxing them to maintain this schedule on weekends and holidays.
Difficult as it may be, keeping the bedroom an electronics free zone is also a good strategy. In this way, there are no technological distractions before children go to bed.
As well, the blue light effect from screens reduces the hormone melatonin which helps us sleep.
But experts advise that parents should also check their own sleep habits and device usage to ensure they set a good example.
However, ultimately, experts agree that parents should take the lead in establishing and enforcing healthy boundaries.
When teens have firm and consistent boundaries, they are more likely to develop healthy habits around technology that will stand them in good stead to face an ever increasing digital future.