Teen Trends - Monthly Newsletter from CWK

Junk Food Wasn't Enough? Now There's "Junk Sleep" Too

Because of stress over school and relationships and distractions from TV, computers, text messaging and video games, your teenagers may be sleeping as little as four hours a night. Called “junk sleep” by experts, this is far short of the recommended nine hours and cannot provide the quality of rest needed for the brain and body to function properly.

Consider that almost all teens have a TV, music system or phone in their bedrooms (two-thirds have all three) and that 50 percent of boys aged 12-14 also have game consoles. Add in parents who allow school-night sleepovers and don’t enforce traditional “lights out” rules and it’s no surprise that teens are sleep deprived.

Aside from the obvious irritability and inability to concentrate, there are real consequences to going without enough rest. It can affect the immune system, contribute to weight gain and even increase cravings for sugary, high-fat foods.

Parents can take numerous steps to help ensure their kids are getting adequate sleep. One of the simplest and most important may be making them aware of how important it is to their health – especially since 40 percent say they feel tired during the day, but only one in 10 make the connection between their fatigue and how well they sleep.

Sleep is like nutrition: junk sleep just isn’t enough.

Can Extra Pounds Keep Your Daughter Out of College?

As if they didn’t already have enough to worry about, overweight high school girls may be only half as likely to go to college as average-weight girls or even overweight boys.  It is believed this may be because overweight girls are teased and alienated by other students, treated differently by teachers and parents and end up internalizing all the negative feedback. (Boys appear to be less susceptible to these factors because their self-image is not as connected to their bodies and physical appearance as it is for girls.)

On the bright side, having an overweight group of peers can act as an antidote to all these factors. Girls attending school where 20 percent of female students are overweight are just as likely to attend college as everyone else. The less she stands out from the crowd, the better her chances of going on to higher education, according to researchers at the University of Texas at Austin.

These figures say nothing about how intelligent or capable overweight girls are, but do highlight how damaging the experience of being stigmatized can be.

Maybe Online Games Aren’t So Bad After All

They’ve been portrayed as outcasts, nerds and anti-social, but new research reveals that gamers who play MMORPGs (Massive Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games) are really quite social. Surprisingly, many players establish friendships online that frequently spill over into the non-virtual world.

While players might, in fact, be socially awkward, gaming gives them shared interests and experiences to share with others. Professor Mark Griffiths of Nottingham Trent University’s School of Social Sciences says that the virtual world allows “players to express themselves in ways they may not feel comfortable doing in real life because of their appearance, gender, sexuality, age or other factors … (in a) place where teamwork, encouragement and fun can all be experienced.”

Many gamers feel they can be “more themselves” while in the game and are able to discuss sensitive topics with online friends within that environment.

Normal Life Not So Normal for "Suddenly Military Kids"

With ongoing conflict in Iraq and Afghanistan, many children are facing new stresses and challenges as their National Guard and reservist parents are deployed. Known as “suddenly military kids,” thousands of SMKs are coping without the support and understanding that comes with growing up within the active duty community.

In addition to the obvious fears and anxieties, the stress of having a loved one in a dangerous situation thousands of miles away is hard on the entire family. Additionally, SMKs are often faced with assuming additional responsibilities that can range from taking care of younger siblings to providing emotional support to the at-home parent. Interruptions in routines and anxiety can also result in academic problems as kids get used to their “new normal” and worry about their military parent being injured or killed.

There are ways for parents to help themselves and their kids. One of the most important might be making sure to reach out to other National Guard and reservist families or organizations that bring them together. This helps everyone involved feel less alienated by sharing their experiences and offering support to each other.

connectwithkids.com | 1-888-598-KIDS (5437) | CWK Network, Inc. ©2007
Top
Connect With Kids