Comments on: Teenagers Use of Caffeine

By: The Mother

The Mother — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 02:40:42 +0000

I’m terribly sorry Write from Karen thought my post was “snarky”. Perhaps it was.

Let us remember how WE all thought our parents didn’t understand us.

I’m not the most permissive parent in the world, nor the most restrictive. I know how to read the studies and pick my battles.

Caffeine and electronics? NOT the battles I pick, as long as their grades are up to snuff.

By: admin

admin — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 17:54:04 +0000

Your comment really hits home for me. Over the summer, I really try to let the kid’s OWN schedule dictate their sleep rhythms. I’m in hopes that their commitments will fashion their schedule without me getting involved. I really DO want them to learn how much sleep they need and the self-discipline to turn off and shut down in order to get it. After all, when all else is distracting (i.e. roommate who parties in college) setting boundaries will be on them NOT me. That said, it is still a sore spot because so many of their friend’s parents are happy (during the school year) to let their kids stay up until midnight if necessary doing homework. I just think that’s not a great habit to instill and I see kids nodding off all the time because they are exhausted. Not a great way to grow a body. Nice to know someone else has the same concerns.

By: Write From Karen

Write From Karen — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 19:56:59 +0000

What a snarky comment.

And teenagers aren’t robots, they get tired just like the rest of us.

Anyway, I found these statistics interesting — but not surprising. Teens are stubborn and they are CONVINCED that they do not need to sleep any longer than seven hours a night.

There’s no disputing teenagers have/like/crave electronic devices – either on their person or in their rooms. And taking them away is certainly not the answer as it only makes them want them more. I think the answer lies in teaching our teens responsibility and moderation with these devices.

For instance, we unplug the internet at 10:00 p.m. That’s when it’s lights out for my teenage boys (though I’d prefer earlier, they will not go to bed any earlier because “that’s when babies go to bed.”) because they have to be up at 6:15 a.m. so we can leave our house by 7:20 a.m.

However, I know for a fact that my oldest son stays up and plays his DS. At first, I was upset by this, but then he explained that to him, it was just as relaxing as reading a book and that he went to sleep faster than if he just laid there and stared at the ceiling. And, after all, he’s the one who has to deal with being tired the next day.

I won’t lie – sleep has been a constant sore spot in our household, but the more I chill, the more the kids are learning, on their own and through their own mistakes, that getting enough sleep is important.

As far as the caffiene issue, we compromise. I don’t buy soda or energy drinks very often, seldom, actually. But I don’t go nuts if they drink soda or have an energy drink, either.

However, I WOULD freak out if I found out my boys were drinking “the equivalent of more than four espressos daily”! That’s not healthy for ANY person, let alone a teenager who is still growing.

Again, it boils down to compromise, responsibility and moderation. Teenagers require a lot of compromise — being a dictator causes problems and being too lax causes problems. Finding the middle road is the best course of action — it’s FINDING that middle road that is challenging.