Teen Sleep: A Guide for Parents and Adolescents
Teenagers are biologically wired to stay up late and sleep in — but school start times and screen habits make everything worse. Here’s what’s actually going on and how to help.
Understanding Teen Sleep
- The Sleepy Teenager — Why adolescents struggle with sleep (it’s not laziness)
- Social Jet Lag and the Teenager — The weekend sleep shift that wrecks Monday mornings
- Why You Fall Asleep: Understanding the Body Clock — The science behind circadian rhythms
Practical Tips
- Eight Teen Sleep Tips — Concrete strategies that work
- Springing Ahead: Rules for Teens (or Anyone Who Struggles to Wake Up) — Managing time changes and morning routines
School, Homework & Sleep
- Homework vs. Sleep: A Cause of Stress in Teens — When academics sabotage rest
- CDC Says School Starts Too Early — The evidence on later start times
Caffeine & Stimulants
- Caffeine and Sleep in Kids — How much is too much (and when to cut off)
How Much Sleep Do Teens Need?
Most teenagers need 8-10 hours per night. Very few actually get it. The consequences include worse grades, increased anxiety and depression, higher accident risk, and impaired athletic performance.
If your teen is consistently getting less than 8 hours, something needs to change — whether that’s bedtime, wake time, screen habits, or the after-school schedule.
For Teens Reading This
I get it — you’re not tired at 10pm, and mornings feel brutal. That’s real biology, not a character flaw. But there are things you can do to work with your body instead of against it. Start with the Eight Teen Sleep Tips.