Your teen’s grades are slipping. Their last report card showed a downward trend in the past semester and you’re disappointed, to say the least. You want them to take their education seriously and get those grades back up!
Before you get upset and blame the slipping grades on laziness, consider a different possibility. Is your teen tired? Do they look bleary-eyed and exhausted whenever you drop them off at school? Their lack of sleep could be the root of this grade problem.
Why Are Teens So Tired?
When you take a closer look at your teen’s schedule, you can understand why they are struggling to keep their eyes open in the morning. High school starts early. Typically, their first class will begin at 8:00 am. If they are participating in extracurricular activities like sports, music or drama, they might have to show up to campus long before that.
Your teen’s day also doesn’t end after the final bell rings. They may have to race to their part-time job before their shift starts, or they may have to head to another extracurricular activity. Even when their after-school schedule is completely clear, they will still have to squeeze in time to finish their homework and study for upcoming tests.
This packed schedule doesn’t give your teen much time to get the sleep that they need.
How Much Sleep Does Your Teen Need?
While the average adult needs 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night, the average teen needs between 8 to 10 hours to feel properly rested. This means that if your teen is heading to school at 8:00 am, they will need to get to bed around 9:00 pm the night before. And most parents of teens know that getting their kid to fall asleep at 9:00 pm is a near impossibility.
There’s a reason why pushing your teen towards an earlier bedtime isn’t the best solution. Biologically, teens experience a shift in their circadian rhythm, making them produce melatonin much later than they did as children. They might not even feel tired until midnight. You can’t expect a night owl to flourish in an early bird’s schedule.
The Solution for Sleepy Teens
So, what’s a better solution than an earlier bedtime? Online schooling. An online school like Ontario eSecondary School gives teens the freedom to complete their coursework on their own time instead of forcing them into a rigid daily schedule. The coursework is available 24/7, meaning teens can log on at their convenience.
Teens don’t have to overhaul their entire schedule and switch over entirely to online schooling. They can simply replace their early morning classes with the online equivalents. This way, they can catch up on their sleep in the morning and tackle their coursework later on when they’re feeling more focused and energized.
In-person high schools aren’t likely to change their class schedules any time soon. Your teen will be expected to fight their natural sleep pattern and get up early. They will have to force themselves to attend classes, all while trying their best to keep their eyes open. They will be expected to perform academically when they’re obviously suffering from sleep deprivation.
Online school can help your teen get out of this exhausting situation. They can complete their coursework without having to sacrifice their essential hours of sleep! Their academic performance will improve when they feel properly rested every single night. Getting their essential Zs every night just might lead to getting As on their report cards.
