Understanding Teen Sleep - Melanie Heath
Teenager or adolescent sleep is fundamentally different to the sleep of children and adults. Adolescence is a unique time of life and a period of many changes socially, emotionally, cognitively, and biologically. From changes of the circadian rhythm to the impact of technology use, this talk will answer the most important questions about teenage sleep.
It explains what healthy adolescent sleep looks like. How long is a “normal” amount of sleep for a teenager? What factors affect teenagers’ sleep? Which of these factors can be changed and which are out of our control? Why are teenagers so tired in the mornings? This talk also explores what the latest evidence has to say about: sleep hygiene, physical activity, school start times, technology use, video gaming, and light exposure. Some of these impact sleep, and some do not, you might be surprised at what does not have much of an effect. Finally, this talk explains what has been proven to help adolescent sleep. Including some ideas of what you might be able to try at home, and when it might be time to ask for help.
Room 4 Session 4