Paradise Under Your Feet — Page 107
Chapter 6: High School Years 107 to the fact that a teen ’ s internal clock changes at puberty. The time when he or she starts to feel sleepy becomes delayed, often until 11 p. m. or later. Staying up late to study, or to socialize, can disrupt a teen ’ s internal clock even more. While experts recommend at least nine hours of sleep a night, few teens actually get more than six hours of sleep due to their overcrowded schedules. Sleep deprivation can have serious consequences as tired teenagers can find it difficult to concentrate and learn, or even to stay awake in class. Too little sleep might also contribute to mood swings and behavioral problems, which is not conducive to good family life. Another major concern is drowsy driving, which can lead to serious, even deadly, accidents. Parents can help by insisting on regular timings for going to bed and for getting up, even though it may be tough for the teenagers to follow. Offering Salat , especially Fajr ( Salat at dawn) and Isha ( Salat at night), at the correct times will also help to regulate sleep time. Limiting after-school work hours, extracurricular activities and social interactions may also be needed. Short after-school naps, not longer than 30 minutes, may be refreshing, but long day-time naps will disrupt sleep at night even further. Caffeine laden soft drinks, especially “ energy ” drinks should be avoided. The physiological changes of puberty continue in this age group. Be prepared to answer some questions that may be outside your comfort zone. It is helpful to know that undue anger and emotional ups and downs are normal for many teenagers but parents should not ignore signs of major depression and substance abuse. Communication and Discipline One of the most important parenting skills needed for raising healthy teenagers involves giving them positive attention. This means parents should spend time with them to remind them that they care, listen to