Is your child on social media when they should be asleep? Do you know how much sleep they actually need to perform at their best academically and not to crash the family car? Is he or she going to parties drinking?
It seems that Aussie teens are drinking less – but they may be taking to the internet instead and cutting in on important sleep time.
A University of New South Wales (UNSW) study shows 50% of 14-17 year olds now abstain from alcohol, compared to 33% in 2001.
In an article in The Australian, UNSW’s Dr Michael Livingston suggested the internet could be a key reason behind the shift in drinking patters, with teenagers spending their time online instead.
The flip side may be that they aren’t getting enough sleep – which makes them more susceptible to risk-taking behaviours.
In the Parenting Tool Kit blog, Dr Judy Willis suggests that while some senior primary school children may manage on 7-8 hours’ sleep, the same children may need a minimum of 8-9 hours during adolescence to function at their best. “It is suggested that when their increased sleep needs are not met, teens can be more susceptible to stress, anxiety, depression, and to high-risk behaviors such as drug and alcohol abuse, sexual promiscuity, and motor vehicle accidents,” Dr Willis wrote.