Talk to their local school officials, for one thing. Make sure they're aware of recent findings about sleep deprivation in teenagers, including studies that show that teens who start classes later tend to perform better and earn better grades. Parents can increase awareness by speaking up about sleep deprivation and its effects on young people. In some schools, parents have requested that sleep education material becomes part of the school's health curriculum. It's important for parents to talk with their children before adolescence about healthy sleep patterns, in much the way they would discuss nutrition and exercise, researchers say.
Parents can help children to develop awareness of the signs that they are sleep deprived.
And they can help preteens find ways to relax and unwind before sleep, by avoiding television, video, and computer games and stimulants like caffeine and sugar. Margaret Willey is working on a book of short stories about mothers and daughters, and her second picture book for children, Clever Beatrice, will be published by Atheneum this year. She is also a member of New Moon Network's board of advisors. Talk with your children about the importance of sleep. Supervise regular sleep schedules for all children and maintain appropriate bedtimes as they grow older.