Did you know that one in five 12–17-year-olds average over 8 hours of screen time a day? That means that in a 14-hour day, 57% of their waking hours involve looking at a screen!
This madness is contributing to a very significant problem all teenagers face - sleep deprivation.
It is killing us. We are becoming walking zombies rather than happy, growing lads. However, we can end this treacherous technological tyranny by putting down our screens before bed.
Stop and think for a second. How much sleep did you get last night? If you got less than 8 hours of sleep my friend, you are a sleep-deprived teenager.
The major cause of sleep deprivation is something we all know and love – mobile phones.
Blue light emitted from devices inhibits the production of melatonin in the body, the hormone responsible for the feeling of drowsiness. This lack of tiredness and resultant loss of sleep time, exacerbates your already fragile teenage emotions, which I know you are all very familiar with. If you don’t believe me, look at the stats.
A study conducted by Growing up in Australia found that 35% of 12-18 years- olds are not getting a minimum 8 hours of sleep on any given night (Australian teens not getting enough sleep, n.d.) Furthermore, the same study discovered that 28% of this 35% were teens who had their phones with them in their bedroom.
I know that you all find it relaxing to be sitting on your phone, scrolling through social media or snapping your girlfriends at night. But at the end of the day, what would you prefer, feeling relaxed for 30 minutes and waking up the next day in a horrid mood? Or using this time to be getting some shuteye and feel refreshed and happy the next day?
It is a serious problem which we are refusing to acknowledge. Little rectangles of blue light are ruining our sleep which is ruining our mood which is ruining our lives.
Unlocking Sweet Dreams
Although things look grim, there is a rose amongst the thorns. The solution is simple: limit the use of screens around bedtime.
Devices suffocate the body’s ability to produce sleep-inducing melatonin.
A study by National Library of Medicine in 2021 found that teenagers who put down their devices 1 hour before bedtime achieved an extra 21 minutes of sleep compared to those who didn’t (National Library of Medicine, 2021). Across the full school week this adds up to 1hr 45 minutes of additional sleep which is money lying on the ground.
It’s that simple.
Although screens are an undeniably bright light in our lives, they are also sleep depriving demons. The experts have spoken – put your phone away before bed!
What needs to be done?
Sleep deprivation in teenagers could be non-existent if we all make an effort to ditch our devices before bed. Most of us are going to school in a feral mood with less than 8 hours of sleep under our belts. Don’t try to deny it. Lack of sleep is killing us. The question is, are you going to continue living life like a zombie or are you going to put your phone down an hour before bed and resolve the catastrophe on our hands – teenage sleep deprivation?
- By Hugh Mansfield, Year 9 TGS student
List of References
- Australian teens not getting enough sleep. Australian Government (2019). Retrieved June 01, 2023 from https://aifs.gov.au/media/australian-teens-not-getting-enough-sleep
- Department of Health, & Services, H. (2021). Teenagers and sleep. Retrieved June 01, 2023 from https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/teenagers-and-sleep#causes-of-teenage-sleep-deprivation
- Among teens, sleep deprivation an epidemic. Stanford Medicine (2014). Retrieved June 01, 2023 from https://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2015/10/among-teens-sleep-deprivation-an-epidemic.html
Latest Blog
It Takes a Village...
The Toowoomba Grammar School Boarding community plays a pivotal role in shaping the young minds of our boarders and instilling values whilst creating a sense of mateship that can last a lifetime. The nurturing and supportive network of staff not only ensure a safe and structured environment but also cultivates a sense of belonging and camaraderie among the boys. ‘The staff supply the fuel to the ship but ultimately it is the boys who steer it and decide upon its final destination’. Our TGS…
Unlocking Literacy - The Big Six Elements for Your Child’s Reading Success
Literacy skills are a core component of each day for our students, and parents often ask how they can support this from home. I am delighted to share with our parent community the essential components that underpin successful reading development. These elements, known as the Big Six, provide a solid foundation for your son’s literacy journey. These critical building blocks include: Oral Language: Communication skills are the bedrock of reading. Encourage rich conversations with your child.…
The Journey of a Boarding Mother
When you look up mother in the dictionary it reads: female parent of a child. When you look up boarder, it simply reads: a child who lives away from home. So, put “boarder mother” together and we have: the female parent of a child who lives away from home – if only it were that simple. My definition of boarding mother is: a strong, dedicated unbelievably great female parent of a child who has the wisdom to put her son’s educational needs, wellbeing and lifelong endeavours before her own. A…
The Importance of Differentiation
As parents, we all want our children to have the best possible education, and one of the most effective ways for teachers to provide this is through differentiation. Differentiation means tailoring instruction to meet the unique needs and interests of each student, and it can take many forms. First, let's define differentiation. Differentiation is a teaching approach that recognises that students have different strengths, interests, and learning styles. By adjusting instruction to meet these…
Addressing Anger in Teenage Boys
As a community dedicated to the growth and well-being of our teenage boys, it is essential to address the complexities of emotions we experience during adolescence. Among these emotions, anger stands out as a powerful and intense feeling that can influence their behaviour, relationships and overall wellbeing. Untreated anger can lead to a myriad of problems and challenges for our young boys. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the dangers of untreated anger, ways to support healthy…
Study Skills Program
Just as teachers benefit from an understanding of the Learning Sciences in their lesson planning and preparation, so to do students when they are studying for major summative assessments. A survey of TGS students in Years 9 to 12 found that 70% of our boys felt that they knew how to study, with the biggest impediments to study being lack of motivation and too many distractions. The most highly preferred study technique was found to be rewriting notes. Cramming, rereading the text and rewriting…
Developing Teachers Worldwide
I recently had the pleasure of attending the 2023 International Boys’ Schools Coalition (IBSC) Annual Conference at Westlake Boys High School in Auckland, New Zealand, in my capacity as a Team Leader in the IBSC Action Research Program. Action research is a systematic inquiry conducted by teachers in their own classroom to better understand the impact that an aspect of their practice is having on their students. Each year, 40 teachers from IBSC member schools from around the world are accepted…
Developing a Sense of Belonging for our TGS Boarders
How do we adequately develop a teenager’s 'sense of belonging' in boarding? Head of Boyce House, Boarding, Mr Michael Hall has investigated how 'Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs' applies to boarding. It is a psychological theory that suggests human beings have a set of fundamental needs that must be fulfilled in a hierarchical order. The theory proposes that individuals must first satisfy their physiological needs before moving on to higher-level needs, such as the 'belongingness' that is so…
Kia Moemoeā – Dream Beyond Limits
A 12-year study has found that boys consistently perform better in an all boys’ school compared to boys in co-educational schools. This was one of several interesting topics presented at the recent International Boys’ Schools Coalition (IBSC) Conference in Auckland, New Zealand which I attended alongside three of my Toowoomba Grammar School colleagues – Mr Luke Rawle, Mr Dave Klan and Mrs Jessica Galbraith. We joined 600 leading educators from 15 countries around the world for the four-day…