Study: Teens benefit from more sleep. Duh.
Study: Teens benefit from more sleep. Duh.
Giving teens 30 extra minutes to start their school day leads to more alertness in class, better moods, less tardiness, and even healthier breakfasts, a small study found. The results mirror those at a few schools that have delayed starting times more than half an hour.
Researchers say there's a reason why even 30 minutes can make a big difference. Teens tend to be in their deepest sleep around dawn — when they typically need to arise for school. Interrupting that sleep can leave them groggy, especially since they also tend to have trouble falling asleep before 11 p.m.
The fact that the study was in the exclusive setting of St. George's School in Middletown, R.I., doesn't necessarily weaken the results. Owens acknowledged that there might be more hurdles to overcome at poorer, public schools, including busing schedules, parents' work hours and daycare for younger siblings. While these issues have killed many proposals elsewhere, some public high schools including those in Minneapolis and West Des Moines have adopted later starting times.
Mel Riddile, an associate director at the National Association of Secondary School Principals, favors later class times for teens but said most districts oppose it.
"It's about adult convenience, it's not about learning," he said. "With budget cuts, it's going to make it more difficult to get this done."
Many parents and teachers at St. George's were opposed but reluctantly agreed to the study after a presentation by Owens, whose daughter was a junior there.
Overall, 201 high school students completed sleep habit surveys before and after the nine-week experiment last year. The results were so impressive that the school made the change permanent, Moss said.
Starting times were shifted from 8 to 8:30. All class times were cut 5 to 10 minutes to avoid a longer school day that would interfere with after-school activities. Moss said improvements in student alertness made up for that lost instruction time.
The portion of students reporting at least eight hours of sleep on school nights jumped from about 16 percent to almost 55 percent. Reports of daytime sleepiness dropped substantially, from 49 percent to 20 percent.
First-period tardies fell by almost half, students reported feeling less depressed or irritated during the day, health center rest visits dropped substantially; and the number of hot breakfasts served more than doubled. Moss said the healthier breakfast probably aided classtime alertness.
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- Posted on July 7, 2010
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i total agree with it will be much better to have 30 mins of more sleeping time!! it would avoid us kids from going ro sleep in class, not be tarty, and most of all be more active durning the dayyy!!! i think this a good idea cause most of us teenages cant fall asleep until after 11!!!!! most of all 30 mins of sleep can lead to a good day!!! not like the other ones were we were all sleepy and tried!!!!!:)
I knew it I've always told my dad to let me sleep more. I wonder if its true and success will become easier than less sleep.
I agree 110%. Even though I am busy with basketball, I still try to get 10 hours of sleep because some teens only get eight or less. Then, when I wake up, I feel well rested for a great day at school.
Some kids at school look like they are going to pass out because they didn't get enough sleep. I make sure I get enough:)
I think that was a good idea to to add 30 extra minutes before they had to be at school. Cause now they have a bette change of not sleeping in class and having a better breakfasts and not being tardy.
I agree with this completely!! Kids should go to sleep half an hour later than schools are usually starting, because we are in our "deepest sleep" at around dawn- when we have to wake up and go to school. I think that kids could also get all homework done in the morning, if they had to do something at night with their family, and didn't have time to get their homework done. Getting more sleep helps a lot!
I 100% agree on this! People our age definitely need more sleep! Especially if we want to stay awake in class. When kids get to be our age, they realize that they need sleep and that they LOVE to sleep. Hey, it makes up for all those times we didn't take naps when we were little(; It IS amazing how 30 minutes of extra sleep can help. One time I overslept and I felt MUCH better when I woke up than when I usually do! That is EXACTLY why I think they need to start school later if they want us to pay more attention(:
AGREED! For me, I'm really busy on Tuesday nights because i have drama club after school then right after I have to go to piano class. When i get home I have 1 hour till dinner time and then 2 hours to study/ do homework. Sometimes I fall asleep doing my homework or studying for a big test! Then, I have to wake up at 5:30 for school the next day. 30 minutes more of sleep would definitely help me be less cranky or moody in the morning.
I totally agree! >_< Us teens need more sleep! Beacause most of us are gumpy and late for are first hour. Because were up late studying and stuff.
i agree with this all the way. teens would be more awake during school hours if we had some more time to sleep not so many kids would be sleep on your teaching time and grades will go up stdents wouldnt be as round up in the class all lound and stuff if they had just a little more sleep.
I agree because us teen nag need more sleep because when if we dot we will fill mad or dot fill like do anything. when i get up I fell mad and lazy i thick we should be getting moor sleep.