The Sleep-Deprived Teen: Why Our Teenagers Are So Tired, and How Parents and Schools Can Help Them Thrive (Healthy Sleep Habits, Sleep Patterns, Teenage Sleep)

As a clinical psychologist, I work with many older adolescents and I find sleep to be a crucial issue in mental health and wellness. Lisa Lewis has written a comprehensive, brilliant guide to teen sleep and covers every angle of the issue in a highly entertaining, readable and disarming way. The book is superbly well organized and easy to follow, with takeaways sprinkled throughout. You will be shocked to learn just how much sleep affects every area of our functioning, and there is a real crisis for exhausted teens. Most valuably, Ms. Lewis provides actual actionable strategies, apps and resources for parents to suggest to and implement with their adolescents, and addresses the issue of tech use and teens in a realistic and practical way. The tips she provides for communicating with one's teen about this are especially helpful! As a parent and a professional, I am so grateful this book exists - it is incredibly timely and will undoubtedly make a difference in so many families' lives, including mine! - Terri Bacow, Ph.D.

As the mom of a teen, I see firsthand how important sleep is for my child's mental health, stamina and well-being. Lisa L. Lewis is a consummate journalist who uncovers every important research study, and statistic to show the validity and necessity of sleep for teens — and the reason for later school start times. She has been involved in the fight for years-- as a journalist, as an advocate and as someone who was instrumental in helping to create laws in California that are also on the docket in other states. Her book offers sharp advice, and expert tips and resources on how to implement better sleep and talk to your teens about it — key for frustrated parents. This is a book that I, and other parents, will return to again and again.

Lisa Lewis' book The Sleep-Deprived Teen showed up just in time for the new school year. I feel so much more effective and ardent about sleep now because of this book. Now, I collect my kids' phones early in the eve, make sure they're getting reading time, and don't feel bad in the slightest about pulling them from too many afterschool and evening sports teams with late -- sometimes very late -- practices. As a mom, you know in your gut what your kid needs... but culture and work pressures and confident kids and a community of activity can sweep you into someone else's schedule. As one of the swept, I'm now proud when I hear my kids grumble... they're SO much more pleasant and willing to engage. Hoping Lewis can wave her magic wand over the rest of my community too.

A surprisingly well-paced and readable book, The Sleep Deprived Teen charts how the recent history of sleep research has led to a new understanding that teen (and adult) sleep deprivation is a public health issue. School districts have been slow to implement The American Academy of Pediatrics' guidelines for an 8:30 am start time, and the author outlines the inspiring story of the parents, scientists, doctors, educators, politicians and school administrators who came together to implement change in their local school districts. This culminated in approval of California State Senate Bill 328, which now requires all California high schools to push start times back to meet the AAP's guidelines.The author also includes an abundance of practical tips to help teens get more sleep. An important read for all parents of tweens and teens, and for young adults who must monitor their own sleep needs and habits.

This book is a must have for all parents and school leaders to read so they can understand the many functions of sleep with regard to our teens. The mental and physical health of our teens is too important to allow it to be decided by bus schedules or sports schedules! As a sleep coach, I wholeheartedly endorse this book and hope all parties that play a part in teen health pay as much attention to teen sleep as we have done with school nutrition. Ignoring sleep needs is the equivalent of ignoring the dangers of teen smoking or excessive fast food! May the info in Ms Lewis book, help your child stay healthy - both physically and mentally !

Well-researched, clear, and easy to read, this book explains why all states should join CA in supporting the health and safety of our children by requiring all high and middle schools start the day after 8:30am. We don't have to make adolescence so hard on kids (and on us parents!). We know better, so we can do better. I will be sharing with our high school principal, who leads a school that starts at 7:25am with kids standing out in the dark waiting for the bus at 6:30am. We will also be using some of the resources for talking with our kids about prioritizing sleep.

If you have kids of any age, or grandkids, or nieces and nephews, or neighbors that you like ok, then you should read this book. The author not only lays out why sleep is important for teens, but she documents the benefits for all of us if teenages get more sleep. Less crime! Fewer car crashes! Better attendance at school! Lower rates of depression and suicide!She also details what you can do to affect change, and provides detailed background for how California passed a statewide law limiting school start times in high school to no earlier than 8:30 a.m.

As the mom of teenagers, this book arrived right on time! The Sleep-Deprived Teen helps us understand both the science and the social factors that make up teenagers' need for (and unfortunate lack of) sleep, and what parents and communities can do about it. This book looks at the issue broadly--including socioeconomic factors and technology's contribution to the problem--and it also gives individuals the tools to help their teens sleep. I am very grateful for this book and highly recommend!