And things that are sad and unpleasant seem more so. Dahl says teens, like adults, become more emotional when they are sleep-deprived. If something strikes them as funny, they may get silly and giggly. If something is sad, they are more likely to cry. And if they are frustrated or angry, they have a harder time controlling their emotions, he says.
Some kids say that when they sleep a lot, they feel even worse.
Besides reconsidering start times, Carskadon and others would like schools to teach children about the importance of sleep. I am of the opinion that educational and public health initiatives are crucial to reintroduce Americans to the importance of sleep and to remind people to sleep defensively - in other words, to defend the need for and their right to sleep. I would like to see lessons on sleep in all school curricula. Work in this area is beginning, she says. She also would like parents and teens to reconsider some of the long and late hours kids spend at work.