Are Your Teens Getting Junk Sleep?

Tue Aug 28, 2007 12:22PM EDT

See Comments (464)

I think we all know the kind of sleep you get when you decide to go to bed with a TV blaring. It's not good. But I like the name The Sleep Council in Britain gives to the kind of sleep teens get when they go to sleep watching TV, listening to music, or using other electronic gadgets: "junk sleep."

A poll of 1,000 kids, ages 12 to 16, found that 30 percent go on four to seven hours of sleep a night, far from the recommended eight or nine or more that teens often get when they can. As Reuters reports, nearly all of the teenagers surveyed had a phone, music system, or TV in their bedroom and two-thirds of them had all three. What, no PC, too? A 2005 Pew Internet & American Life project study found that 26 percent of U.S. teens spent time online in their bedrooms, and that's two years ago.

As Helene Emsellem, a sleep physician, told the NPR's Allison Aubrey, "As we have more and more ways to stay connected at night, we've seen an exaggeration of the night-owlism in teenagers." Research shows that teens' internal clocks shift toward much later sleep times, and tech that keeps teens engaged and not relaxed doesn't help—especially when they have to get up early for school.

Check out Emsellem's recommendations to help teens sleep better in the article. (Link below) For starters, she tells parents to take TVs out of teens' bedrooms, enforce turn-off times on PCs and phones—every tech gadget except music players. Ensellem encourages teens to listen to music at night—but tune into a soothing playlist, on low volume, that helps them relax and go to sleep.

If you've got more tips to help kids de-tech at the end of the day and get the sleep they need, please post them below.

LINKS: "Junk sleep" damaging teenagers' health [Reuters via Yahoo! News]
Helping teens make peace with sleep [NPR]

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  • 446 Posted by ynottrahe on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:56PM EDT Report Abuse

    Speaking as one of those overly-teched teenagers who only sleep four-ishh hours a night, de-teching your teenager is definately not the way to go. My first reason is for that of the teen who shares a room with their siblings, music can be mandatory. Having a nightime playlist is good, but sometimes the nice, calm,soothing music doesn't drowned out the quite annoying sound of, let's say, one of those great relatives you absolutely love that happen to have congestive/breathing problems, so in some cases, the more hard rock or alternative music, or the higher decibel levels can become mandatory so we can get at least some sleep. I'm not sure about the other average teenager, but my school days, I will get up at six, be at school by seven, and in class by seven twenty-five when school starts. At two twenty, I head home and once reaching home about three, grab a snack and drop dead into bed for about two hours (if lucky) then will spend all my time from about five-thirty to nine doing homework. Add meals, sports, music lessons, and extra activities such as after school programs and my life has already sunk down the drain, because all my waking moments are filled, so I rarely get to sleep until one or two in the morning. So depriving me of my simple pleasures of music, and the occasional time I get to watch T.V.(I havent watched any T.V. in almost two weeks as it is, besides a few passing glances) will definately only succeed in raising my already high stress levels. We may be good in fooling you, but us teenagers are stressed out probably at least as much as you, if not in the same ways, and maybe not showing it in the same ways either. But it's there. Never doubt that. My last hurrah, while my mother, who is trying, and quite failing, while increasing the tension thats already there between parent-daughter, to de-tech her child of her half hour of computer time, that she only takes a few times a week on the days she isn't busy, is driving me up the wall, I will stop to remind all other parents of a few key things. For one, our life today is hardly similar to what yours was when you were in highschool and college twenty or thirty years ago. The world is always different from the second before; new technology, new temptation, new difficulty is always coming and adapting and making things easier and more difficult at the same time. So times change. Live with it. Another fact is that getting us up earlier won't help. The average teenager would do well if school started a little later, ran a little later, and if everything was, simply, just a little later. It's clinically proven. Look it up. Third of all, don't treat us like were still toddlers, or even ten still. A year can change so much. Our personalities change as fast, if not faster than our pictures. Theres a big difference in both if you care to look. Treat us as what we are; young adults needing help in certain ways, not in others. same w/ responsibilites. And we will love you for it. lol ya right

  • 447 Posted by ynottrahe on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:56PM EDT Report Abuse

    Speaking as one of those overly-teched teenagers who only sleep four-ishh hours a night, de-teching your teenager is definately not the way to go. My first reason is for that of the teen who shares a room with their siblings, music can be mandatory. Having a nightime playlist is good, but sometimes the nice, calm, soothing music doesn't drowned out the quite annoying sound of, let's say, one of those great relatives you absolutely love that happen to have congestive/breathing problems, so in some cases, the more hard rock or alternative music, or the higher decibel levels can become mandatory so we can get at least some sleep. I'm not sure about the other average teenager, but my school days, I will get up at six, be at school by seven, and in class by seven twenty-five when school starts. At two twenty, I head home and once reaching home about three, grab a snack and drop dead into bed for about two hours (if lucky) then will spend all my time from about five-thirty to nine doing homework. Add meals, sports, music lessons, and extra activities such as after school programs and my life has already sunk down the drain, because all my waking moments are filled, so I rarely get to sleep until one or two in the morning. So depriving me of my simple pleasures of music, and the occasional time I get to watch T.V.(I havent watched any T.V. in almost two weeks as it is, besides a few passing glances) will definately only succeed in raising my already high stress levels. We may be good in fooling you, but us teenagers are stressed out probably at least as much as you, if not in the same ways, and maybe not showing it in the same ways either. But it's there. Never doubt that. My last hurrah, while my mother, who is trying, and quite failing, while increasing the tension thats already there between parent-daughter, to de-tech her child of her half hour of computer time, that she only takes a few times a week on the days she isn't busy, is driving me up the wall, I will stop to remind all other parents of a few key things. For one, our life today is hardly similar to what yours was when you were in highschool and college twenty or thirty years ago. The world is always different from the second before; new technology, new temptation, new difficulty is always coming and adapting and making things easier and more difficult at the same time. So times change. Live with it. Another fact is that getting us up earlier won't help. The average teenager would do well if school started a little later, ran a little later, and if everything was, simply, just a little later. It's clinically proven. Look it up. Third of all, don't treat us like were still toddlers, or even ten still. A year can change so much. Our personalities change as fast, if not faster than our pictures. Theres a big difference in both if you care to look. Treat us as what we are; young adults needing help in certain ways, not in others. same w/ responsibilites. And we will love you for it. ya right lo

  • 448 Posted by gracelovesyou06 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:12PM EDT Report Abuse

    Well, I don't agree with this article. I have recently started listening to my ipod when i fall asleep, and it has helped me to relax and just fall asleep.

  • 449 Posted by toffaloafa on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:14PM EDT Report Abuse

    i have a cell phone plus a macbook! w/ awesome speakers and an hdtv, and im a soph in high school. i love it :-)

  • 450 Posted by vampchick83 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:31PM EDT Report Abuse

    the tv actually helps me relax and get to sleep.

  • 451 Posted by sfsmiley on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:14PM EDT Report Abuse

    most of the comments here are simply ridiculous! take the tv's, and computers away?? We have no less than 6 computers, 4 tv's, 2 xboxes, ps2, countless mp3 players in my home. I also repair pc's, electronic equipment til all hours of the night, and work as a network admin during the day. My son helps me all along the way, we are up on weekends working sometimes til 2 or 3, sleep for 4 or 5 hours then back at it again. weekdays, after schoolwork is done he helps me as well, bedtime is usually when we drop. You need to teach your children dedication, and that doesnt come by sleeping 9 hours a night, and working an 8- 5 work day, those days are LONG gone. One point I agree on is the computer in the bedroom, theres none here, no need for it theres one in everyother room anyway. Who sleeps in their bed anyway?? lol, I call my couch home.

  • 452 Posted by speedycandy04 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:35PM EDT Report Abuse

    yeah i think kids dont get enough sleep. tv is a big factor along with handheld games and other electronics like cd players or mp3's.

  • 453 Posted by pinkladysarina6 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:12PM EDT Report Abuse

    WELL. I CAN SEE IF KIDS ARE LOOKING STUFF UP ON THE NET FOR HOMEWORK. NOT FOR CHATTING IN ROOMS.

  • 454 Posted by mhoward7788 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:17PM EDT Report Abuse

    We live in the "tech generation". let us do what we do, and leave us alone. enough said.

  • 455 Posted by ericnicholascooper on Sat Sep 8, 2007 8:50PM EDT Report Abuse

    Im 13, I have a laptop and a tv in my room. I go to sleep between 10-11 and get a great nights sleep. A computer is a good idea to have in your room so you have everthing you need to get your homework done in 1 place. As for the tv, it is good to just relax in your room and just have some alone time at night.

  • 456 Posted by ericnicholascooper on Sat Sep 8, 2007 9:03PM EDT Report Abuse

    Just to add to my above post, I am a A student (most of the time) and I think that although everyone should have more family time, after a long day of school and homework, it is good to just go in your room and relax by yourself. Like it or not, techonolgy is here and it is not going away.

  • 457 Posted by ebonydurr@att.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:51PM EDT Report Abuse

    What about all of the teenagers geting mor then 8-9 hours of sleep does that effect them

  • 458 Posted by frawlins@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:03PM EDT Report Abuse

    You people are so intense it's funny. Sorry to be rude but gadgets are good, and I get excellent sleep, have nice dreams... Kids and teens should be able to have TVs, computers, video game systems, the works. They can read a book before they go to bed, can they not? Let them do that... instead of limiting everything. That stresses them out. Just make sure they're healthy.

  • 459 Posted by anastasia_b@att.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:53PM EDT Report Abuse

    I need the TV in my room. We all have differnt tastes in tv shows and movies so having one TV in the whole house would be just tragic. And for getting to know my family, well, that's something I would like to NOT DO. They can't stand me, I cant stand them and I'd like to keep it that way. For everyone else, great. Do what helps you but for me, I like the way things are going around here.

  • 460 Posted by guineverefineart on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:14PM EDT Report Abuse

    Does anyone else see the irony here? We have an article suggesting parents limit the access kids have to technology based products and on the very same page to the right, in the advertisement section, is a series of high tech gadgets! We all certainly need a Prada phone and a digital SLR camera to make our lives more fulfilling. How can we "de-tech" our kids if we don't lead by example?

  • 461 Posted by recoilduke on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:33PM EDT Report Abuse

    Here's some food for thought. Anyone ever look into tech gadget use at night and abnormalities of sleep as being related to underlying neurological or psychiatric disturbances. Working with this population, I can tell you that tech gadgets are a great way of dissociating from painful feelings and avoiding disturbing thoughts which are the real disrupters of sleep. Also sensory integration disorder. Those kids need sensory stimulation to settle down. Sleep disturbances are common in both populations and its not merely the fault of tech toys. Tech toys can be the crutch or even used constructively. Don't accept everything you read as one and only answer. I'm NOT condoning electronc babysitting in lieu of responsible parenting.

  • 462 Posted by heathers_moon on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:17PM EDT Report Abuse

    This post is in response to that Wed Aug 29th re sleeping sleeping better as a teenager. Quite possibly sleeping with your clock radio and fan was beneficial to you during your younger years, but why not continue the practice now if it was so effective? A fundamental factor I hope we are not neglecting being that as we age our length and frequency of reaching the REM cycle of sleep (the deepest form) decreases. Hence the "sleep like a baby".

  • 463 Posted by vinay_1000 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:35PM EDT Report Abuse

    The above reviews are helpful to get more information about teens getting junk sleep issue. I have gathered most of the information from the reviews. Find more related information from http://www.troubledteensguide.com/

  • 464 Posted by lina9@prodigy.net on Thu Oct 1, 2009 6:45PM EDT Report Abuse

    I am a teen and have younger siblings who can play video games watch tv and play on the computer until dinner and then have to take a bath/shower and are in bed by 8:00 every night except for fridays and saturdays. the only thing that ever keeps me up is my cell phone(not texting cuz parents dont allow it but talking) and the tv. on school nights i can stay up until like 11:30(well thats when they check on me anyways) and i usually listen to a sound system that plays the ocean and have a fan on and it really helps me sleep... i used to get "junk sleep" but now i actually get a normal amount of sleep.

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