The GEM Debate:
Let Them Sleep In? Do You Agree? (POLL)
The other day, my son Cole excitedly waved a piece of paper in front of my face.
“LOOK!” he yelled. “Two days a week, my first class doesn’t start until after 11!
I took a better look at his high school schedule and he was absolutely right; the boy is going to be able to sleep in at least a couple of times a month.
You know what his mom says?
GOOD!
This issue crops up at the beginning of each school year, probably in every household, to be debated but never changed, it seems.
According to this story, The American Academy of Pediatrics states that the average high school senior gets less than 7 hours of sleep a night. They go on to add that teens would do better in school, and life frankly, if they were able to have a later start to the school day.
Related: Top Talker: Does Your Teenager Get Enough Sleep? (POLL)
My big “kids”, Cole and Casey
The truth is, I actually wouldn’t mind a later start for my high schoolers and part of that is purely selfish; getting them out of bed in the morning takes Herculean effort. It starts with a bang on the door and inevitably ends with one (or both) parties yelling (still through the locked door). I find the transition from summer to school year to be especially difficult, I badger my boy to get in the bed before midnight, at least a couple of weeks in advance of classes.
But I think it’s more than that. I don’t know about you, but my kids are wound up from the day; it takes them more time at night to unwind which means they’re not getting into REM sleep that they need.
Of course, as much as I think this is a good idea, I’m not sure it will ever happen. It would require a change in school transportation, later start for athletics and other after school events among other things.
But if it means healthier kids, it seems a small price to pay. No?
That’s my take; what do you think? Should teens get to sleep in? What do you think about a later start for classes?
Take the poll and leave a comment!
[polldaddy poll=”8267220″]
