HEALTHY HABITS
TEENS & SLEEP
Sleep – few of us ever seem to get quite enough, and probably the hardest hit are today’s teens, whose developing brains crave down time. Yet they are constantly confronted with the demands of school work, extra curricular activities, friends and family needs, and often jobs, not to mention the social pressure to be on top of the latest cultural trends and digitally connected 24/7. Some teens even report responding to text messages in their sleep. (Yes, Virginia, there really is such a thing as “sleep texting!”) In a recent study published in the Journal of School Health, 90% of teens reported getting less than the recommended nine hours of sleep per night, and according to Psychology Today, 40% of teens fall firmly into the category of “sleep deprived.”
March 5 ushers in National Sleep Awareness Week, giving us a little prod to examine how critical sleep is to cognitive function and overall health in developing adolescents. What do parents need to know? And how do we help our sleep-deprived kids get the critical rest they need? Check out B-PEN’s special Parent Network Update on Teens & Sleep.
Sleep – few of us ever seem to get quite enough, and probably the hardest hit are today’s teens, whose developing brains crave down time. Yet they are constantly confronted with the demands of school work, extra curricular activities, friends and family needs, and often jobs, not to mention the social pressure to be on top of the latest cultural trends and digitally connected 24/7. Some teens even report responding to text messages in their sleep. (Yes, Virginia, there really is such a thing as “sleep texting!”) In a recent study published in the Journal of School Health, 90% of teens reported getting less than the recommended nine hours of sleep per night, and according to Psychology Today, 40% of teens fall firmly into the category of “sleep deprived.”
March 5 ushers in National Sleep Awareness Week, giving us a little prod to examine how critical sleep is to cognitive function and overall health in developing adolescents. What do parents need to know? And how do we help our sleep-deprived kids get the critical rest they need? Check out B-PEN’s special Parent Network Update on Teens & Sleep.
DOCTORS CALL TEENS "WALKING ZOMBIES"
Another article on teens and sleep, this one from the Washington Post, with doctors referring to sleep deprived teens as "walking zombies." Really reinforces the importance of helping our kids get the rest their bodies (especially their brains!) so desperately need. Check it out. For additional general information on sleep, visit the Tuck Sleep Foundation's informative website.
Another article on teens and sleep, this one from the Washington Post, with doctors referring to sleep deprived teens as "walking zombies." Really reinforces the importance of helping our kids get the rest their bodies (especially their brains!) so desperately need. Check it out. For additional general information on sleep, visit the Tuck Sleep Foundation's informative website.
CONCERNED ABOUT GOOD NUTRITION?
Check out the Brookline Department of Public Health's Food Day Newsletter for tips, info and recipes. Also, Accredited Schools Online has a new page on Student Nutrition & Wellness worth checking out.
Check out the Brookline Department of Public Health's Food Day Newsletter for tips, info and recipes. Also, Accredited Schools Online has a new page on Student Nutrition & Wellness worth checking out.
THE PERILS OF TANNING
Teens love to look their best, and a healthy tan is often the coveted look. But did you know that just one indoor tanning session per year in high school or college boosts the risk of developing potentially deadly melanoma by 20 percent? Check out "Teens & Tanning."
Teens love to look their best, and a healthy tan is often the coveted look. But did you know that just one indoor tanning session per year in high school or college boosts the risk of developing potentially deadly melanoma by 20 percent? Check out "Teens & Tanning."