Taking steps to keep teens awake in school

It's no wonder teens are tired from running between attending school, preparing for Common Core testing, extracurricular activities and part-time jobs. Parents play the role of making sure their young adults get enough sleep so they can succeed in class and at other activities. Here are some tips to help your kids stay awake in class:

Make sure they get to sleep
Teens are so busy that they may find themselves working late into the night on last-minute homework or practicing for sports. While it's inevitable that this happens every once in a while, sleeping should still be a top priority. Getting ample rest is key to functioning well in school. Plus, without sleep, students won't have any energy to do all the things they want to do once class lets out. The National Sleep Foundation noted that teenagers should get between 8 and 10 hours of sleep every night. 

Follow a routine
It can be tricky to stick to the same bedtime every night because many teenagers have sporadic schedules. However, doing the same things right before bed, like brushing teeth and reading, can greatly improve teenage sleep patterns. It may seem like a small step, but this repetition helps the body and mind realize it's time to rest and can reduce the amount of time it takes for teenagers to fall asleep. This, in turn, will help them catch more Zs.

Change the schedule
Some teenagers are not awake enough to focus in 8 a.m. classes. Taking courses in physics or a foreign language may not be the best idea before noon. Encourage your children to set their schedules so they attend core classes at the time of the day when they are most alert. Morning or afternoon, this can improve their grades and make them less likely to take a snooze in class.

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