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Recently I spoke to incoming year 7 parents about the value of sleep and keeping technology out of kids' rooms.
Here's what I had to say.....
Here's what I had to say.....
"As a Teacher Librarian, my focus is learning across the curriculum. I work with every teacher & every student in the school. I believe the basis of all learning is reading and predictably, as an English teacher & a librarian, I am a passionate advocate for books & traditional forms of literacy (reading & writing).
Reading is fundamental to literacy.
At our school we are very privileged to have a well-resourced library to support students to become avid readers and self-motivated learners.
Reading is fundamental to literacy.
At our school we are very privileged to have a well-resourced library to support students to become avid readers and self-motivated learners.
Another part of what I do involves giving students the skill-set to be critical users of the tsunami of information & media they are swamped by on a daily basis. As a Teacher Librarian, it is my mission for students to become masters of media - not slaves to a screen.
My TL role ties in nicely with my role as Wellbeing Coordinator and the idea that “Happy Students Make the Best Learners”. Our school has a comprehensive wellbeing program where students learn about the importance of their own mental health and self-care. Respectful relationships, minimising exam stress and healthy use of social media are just some of the topics covered in our Wellbeing Program.
According to current research, a big part of student wellbeing is getting enough sleep. Today’s ‘screenagers’ spend more time with pixels than people, averaging 9 hours technology & media use per day. Many kids are inhabiting the unsupervised digital playgrounds of Snapchat & Instagram well into the early hours - and these are very dangerous places to be.
My apologies to any psychologists present - my interpretation of the latest research is in layman’s terms. I have some very interesting facts about kids and sleep that I have picked up in my reading and at conferences.
- Sleep-deprived kids are much more susceptible to addiction
- There is a direct correlation between sleep deprivation and certain psychotic disorders
- Sleep deprivation plus stress leads to a drop in mood that can lead to depression
- The average 14 year old needs 9 hours sleep per night
- Missed sleep leads to a quantifiable drop in IQ
- Devices in the bedroom leads to conditioned insomnia. The adolescent brain equates bedtime with action & expectant waiting (waiting on likes, responses from others). Instead of switching off the brain is being trained to switch on.
"Now you may be thinking “I trust my child - I’m sure they wouldn’t do the wrong thing, I’m fine with them having their devices in their room at night”.
This approach seems to be failing.
Teenagers WILL NOT MANAGE THEIR OWN SLEEP.
Teenagers WILL NOT MANAGE THEIR OWN SLEEP.
Sleep is precious and we need to protect it. The adolescent brain is not ready for self-regulation. Kids need to be supported in this and parents need to feel that they are empowered and supported too.
At night the ‘emotional’, less evolved part of the brain takes over and the rational part turns off. The effects of risky decision making & cyberbullying are amplified at night. Our children are not capable of making considered, rational choices in the wee hours.
The adolescent brain is “all petrol and no brakes” at night.
The adolescent brain is “all petrol and no brakes” at night.
When should you be setting strict rules around devices at night? The research suggests the earlier the better. According to the Woolcock Institute, from year 9 on it gets really hard.
Start now.
Start now.
Finally, sleep is a hard sell - you need to REALLY stand your ground on this one. Form a united front and make an agreement as a family to stick to it.
Be confident - you are not the only parents saying NO to devices in rooms at night (despite what your child may say!). "
Be confident - you are not the only parents saying NO to devices in rooms at night (despite what your child may say!). "
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