The science behind later school start times for teens
There’s a growing body of research that suggests that teenagers might benefit from a later school start time. Some schools in the US and even one here in South Africa plan to experiment with later school start times in 2023.
In the US, a landmark law passed in 2019 states that students at public high schools cannot start class before 8.30 am. In South Africa, Curro Holdings has launched CurroPM, allowing students to opt for an afternoon learning schedule. In this new model, CurroPM students will attend classes between 1.45 pm and 6.30 pm.
The science behind later school start times
Our sleep and awake times are governed by our circadian rhythm, a kind of internal clock that is dictated in part by exposure to light. It releases hormones throughout the day that help regulate sleep. Our circadian rhythm changes in different stages of life.
A teenager’s natural circadian rhythm requires later sleep times and later wake-up times, with bedtimes around 11 pm or midnight and wake-up times around 9 am.
Sleep deprived teens
The current school system does not allow for this natural rhythm, with most teens struggling to fall asleep earlier than 11 pm and having to wake up earlier than 7 am to get to school on time. This means teenagers are often sleep-deprived.
Good sleep is essential for alertness and physical and mental health. Researchers believe that allowing teenagers to sleep even 30 minutes longer than they are currently could result in better grades, better mental health, fewer sick days, and less risk-taking.
Without enough sleep, teenagers (and people in general) are more likely to experience:
- Cognitive difficulties and shorter attention spans
- Poor decision-making and memory impairment
- Moodiness, aggression, and depression
- Increased risk-taking behavior
- Slower reflexes and clumsiness
- Reduced academic or sporting performance
As they enter high school and take on increasing workloads, teenagers begin to sacrifice much-needed sleep, especially on school nights.
Other factors that cannot be ignored
More research is important to understand the benefits of later school times fully. We must also remember that other factors impact teens’ sleep, such as social media use, caffeine consumption, busy workloads, and stress.
There are numerous ways you can support your teenager’s sleep:
- Establish an ideal timeframe for going to bed, and stick to it whenever possible
- Ensure your teen has an ideal sleep environment that is conducive to rest
- Encourage a restful or relaxing routine before going to sleep, such as taking warm baths, enjoying calming beverages, or reading
- Encourage naps and sleep-ins where appropriate
- Limit caffeine intake, especially in the hours leading up to bedtime
- Limit technology 1–2 hours before sleep
Of course, depending on their physical activities and responsibilities during the day, your teenager may also benefit from a more supportive mattress. Many young people sleep on hand-me-down mattresses which don’t provide enough support for growing bodies. If it is time for an upgrade, there are some mattress size options suited to taller teens, and you may wish to have your teenager try our online mattress selector.
There are numerous ways you can support your teenager’s sleep:
• Establish an ideal timeframe for going to bed, and stick to it whenever possible
• Ensure your teen has an ideal sleep environment that is conducive to rest
• Encourage a restful or relaxing routine before going to sleep, such as taking warm
baths, enjoying calming beverages, or reading
• Encourage naps and sleep-ins where appropriate
• Limit caffeine intake, especially in the hours leading up to bedtime
• Limit technology 1–2 hours before sleep
Of course, depending on their physical activities and responsibilities during the day, your
teenager may also benefit from a more supportive mattress. Many young people sleep on
hand-me-down mattresses which don’t provide enough support for growing bodies. If it is
time for an upgrade, there are some mattress size options suited to taller teens, and you may
wish to have your teenager try our online mattress selector.
