Why Is My Teen Sleeping So Much?

By Graciela Sholander

It's a struggle to get your teen out of bed. Her alarm clock goes off, but she continues to sleep soundly. Even when you open the blinds to let the morning light in, she groans and throws the covers over her head. You have to practically drag her out of bed to get her to class. Your once punctual child has become a perpetually tardy teenager. What's wrong with her?

Chances are, your teenager is not getting enough sleep. Recent studies show that teenagers need between 9 and 9 " hours of sleep every night to perform their best during the day. Unfortunately, overloaded schedules prevent many teens from getting the sleep their developing bodies need. The demands of school, extracurricular activities, jobs, social life, and entertainment (movies, television, e-mail, video games) result in many teenagers getting only 6 or 7 hours of sleep.

Research shows that while teenagers sleep, hormones are released to promote growth and development. It's especially important that teens get enough rapid eye movement (REM) sleep to boost their learning and memorizing abilities. Not enough sleep can make your teenager struggle to stay awake in school. It can also make him moody, lethargic, and unable to concentrate on important activities, like driving.

The solution is not as simple as getting him to bed by 8:00 PM. Your teenager's biological clock works differently than a child's or adult's. If your teen tends to stay up late and get up late, it's because of his internal clock.

Some school districts have begun to shift their schedules to accommodate students' biological clocks, starting classes after 8:00 AM . Until this becomes a universal practice, though, you'll have to work with your teen to help her get enough sleep and stay alert in class.

Here are ways to help:

  • Empathize. Your teen is NOT lazy. On the contrary, she's probably overloaded and sleep-deprived. Remember, teenagers need at least 9 hours of sleep every night.
  • Encourage your teen to "wind down" near bedtime. Reading , listening to soft music, meditating, or doing yoga are great ways to slow down and prepare for a good night's rest.
  • Eliminate any caffeinated foods and drinks, including sodas, coffees, and chocolates, after about 4:00 PM .
  • Help your teenager simplify his life. Can he work fewer hours at his part-time job? Can he finish homework earlier in the day? Can he e-mail his friends well before bedtime?
  • Light up her room in the morning. Sunlight, daylight, or even bright room lights can help her shift into wake mode. But don't expect her to jump out of bed!
  • Talk. Tell your teen what's going on with his growing body. Let him know that getting more sleep will help him feel better and have more energy. Once he understands what's happening, he'll probably want to go to bed earlier.