Teens need a lot of rest because their bodies and minds are changing and growing quickly. But they are more likely to get less sleep, not more, than they did when they were younger.

Most teens do best on at least nine hours of sleep. But schoolwork and social life mean that too often, they get six hours of sleep or less. This usually happens on school nights, when your teen needs sleep the most!

A tired teen may have less interest in school. He may be moody and depressed. He may fall asleep at the wrong times, such as in school or while driving!

Tired teens may also try to “catch up” on sleep during the weekends. This is difficult on your teen’s body and may negatively affect the schedule of everyone else in the household.

You probably can’t force your teen to go to sleep. But you can help by having family “quiet times” after a certain hour. The only reason for your teen to be awake during these times is schoolwork. When schoolwork is not pressing, encourage your teen get a little more sleep.

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