Got grumpy teens? A new study says allowing them to sleep in a little on school days may improve their mood, overall health and performance in school. High school students look forward to summer time for many reasons, but the main one is usually that they get to sleep in. And while some parents may think it's because their teens are lazy, it turns out there's a biological explanation.
"When they are in their highest growth surge in their entire life is when they are preteens and teenagers, and at that time, they need more sleep," said pediatrician specialist, Dr. Kaye sykes.
Teens need about 10 to 11 hours of sleep per night. Not only that, Dr. Sykes says teens are biologically programmed to stay up later and sleep in.
In the Rhode Island study when teens were allowed to sleep in an extra half hour, students overwhelmingly said they were more motivated and less depressed.
Students in Bakersfield said with the start time as it is, they're always tired and don't usually have time to eat breakfast before class.
"I think it would be better if we go a half hour of sleep, so we could come rested instead of maybe wanting to sleep in class," said high school student Gilbert Ortiz.
"Half an hour later, I would love that, because I don't even get to eat breakfast because it's so early and I'm so tired," said high school student Marlena Robertson.
Dr. Sykes says since the school day is likely to stay as is, teens just have to focus on going to bed earlier and trying to maintain that schedule on weekends. Parents, she says, should make sure their kids start getting back into school year sleep patterns a few weeks before beginning class again.
In 1994, California lawmakers considered a bill that would have pushed school start time to nine-o-clock, but the bill failed.
