Teen Sleep Patterns

Do your teens stay up too late at night and wake too late in the morning? Believe it or not, psychological research suggests that there are biological reasons for teens´ sleep preferences. The onset of puberty brings changes in the parts of the brain that govern the biological clock so that it shifts to a later cycle. But why does the biological clock shift in adolescence? Researchers aren´t sure, but they do know that teens also need more sleep (9-10 hours) than children or adults. Unfortunately the extra sleep becomes harder to get because of the biological clock´s shift. What can a teen do? Try to go to bed at the same time every night, slowly easing yourself into relaxation. Also expose yourself to sunlight first thing in the morning to help reset your biological clock.