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What is it with parenting? When our kids are young we’re forever trying to get them to sleep. Then, they becomes teens, and it’s impossible to get them out of bed!
I am not alone as an exasperated mum of teens who desperately wants them up and at school on time, and ideally not sleeping until midday every weekend.
We need our teenagers to sleep enough to ensure they are well-rested and in good emotional health to succeed in their busy lives. But why are their sleep patterns so different to everyone else in the family?
Understanding is key to helping our big kids. This article from Kids Health helped me understand that my teens are not lazy (as I have regrettably called them many times) but are reacting to biological changes beyond their control. It states:
“During the teen years, the body’s circadian rhythm (an internal biological clock) is reset, telling a person to fall asleep later and wake up later.This change is likely due to the brain hormone melatonin , which is released later at night for teens than it is for kids and adults.”
Knowing this was a lightbulb moment for me. I was able to understand my teens better and be more compassionate to their late night/late morning schedule.
Of course, it didn’t change the fact that they still had to get out of bed in time for school or work, but it changed how I handled it as a parent. Instead, of screaming “get out of bed”, I now help them manage their teen body clock alongside the demands of the real world.
Here are my tips to get teenagers out of bed in the morning (from a mum who’s been there).
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What is it with parenting? When our kids are young we’re forever trying to get them to sleep. Then, they becomes teens, and it’s impossible to get them out of bed!
I am not alone as an exasperated mum of teens who desperately wants them up and at school on time, and ideally not sleeping until midday every weekend.
We need our teenagers to sleep enough to ensure they are well-rested and in good emotional health to succeed in their busy lives. But why are their sleep patterns so different to everyone else in the family?
Understanding is key to helping our big kids. This article from Kids Health helped me understand that my teens are not lazy (as I have regrettably called them many times) but are reacting to biological changes beyond their control. It states:
“During the teen years, the body’s circadian rhythm (an internal biological clock) is reset, telling a person to fall asleep later and wake up later.This change is likely due to the brain hormone melatonin , which is released later at night for teens than it is for kids and adults.”
Knowing this was a lightbulb moment for me. I was able to understand my teens better and be more compassionate to their late night/late morning schedule.
Of course, it didn’t change the fact that they still had to get out of bed in time for school or work, but it changed how I handled it as a parent. Instead, of screaming “get out of bed”, I now help them manage their teen body clock alongside the demands of the real world.
Here are my tips to get teenagers out of bed in the morning (from a mum who’s been there).
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