Sleep Deprivation: Kids at Risk

Little known fact: more people die in car accidents due to drowsy driving than drunk driving.    Teenagers are especially vulnerable.  Experts tell us that the average teenager needs over 9 1/4 hours sleep each night. Teens need more sleep than the rest of us because they are still growing and developing.  Unfortunately the typical teen gets gets considerably less.  87% of high school students get less than 8 1/2 hours sleep.     That leaves a sleep deficit of almost an hour each night. Even extra sleep on the weekend will not make up for that.  Like many adults, many teens now rely on coffee and other caffeinated drinks to keep them alert.  Not a healthy choice.  Sleep deprivation is an epidemic that is putting most kids at risk.

During my years at Lutheran High of Dallas, I taught A.P Psychology, in addition to my job as school counselor.  One unit dealt with consciousness and as part of the curriculum we covered sleep and the sleep cycle.  I tried to help my students understand the implications when they and their peers didn't get the right amount of rest each evening. One year I challenged my students to come up with possible solutions to the problem.  One option was to alter the school day; to start school an hour later and extend the end of the day the same time.

Last week I read a report that the American Academy of Pediatrics had called for just such change.  Their recommendation was to delay the start of school for middle and high school students until 8:30 AM.   I immediately heard some negative reaction from educators.  The major issue is what the change would mean to extra curricular activities, especially athletics.  Still, the reality is are putting our teens at risk if we don't make the adjustment.

Why wait until school administrators get on board?  That is probably not going to happen. Then, why should we wait?  Every parent has the responsibility to insure the safety and welfare of their student.  It starts when we have an honest conversation with our teens about their sleep habits and then helping them make the adjustments..  We don't want them driving drunk or with someone under the influence.  Why should we allow them to go through life drowsy?