Many parents will openly admit that their teens don’t get enough sleep and many parents are on the lookout for good sleep tips for teenagers.  It’s generally well known that exercise improves sleep, but for teens this may have special significance.  A recent study showed a sharp distinction between the sleep quality of teens who sat in front of a computer for more than two hours a day or a television for more than four hours a day, and those who exercised instead. The teens who sat in front of the computer did so recreationally – that is, they did social networking, played games, and so forth.

This “sedentary behavior” had a profound effect on the teens’ sleep quality. Teens who exercised instead of spending time in front of the computer reported sleeping for eight hours or more, while the sedentary teens got insufficient sleep.

Teens are a special concern regarding exercise and sleep. There are several reasons for this, such as the following:

• Teens are more likely to spend recreational time in front of a computer.
• Teens tend to stay up late due to homework and/or circadian rhythm changes.
• Teens actually need more sleep per night (between nine and ten hours) than the average adult. 
• Teens are in school, and schoolwork is often very demanding and requires sufficient sleep to be tackled effectively.
• Teens’ brains are still developing.

In other words, teens are the most likely group to get insufficient sleep, yet they are the group that needs it most.  So how does exercise improve sleep for teens? 

Here are a few sleep tips for teenagers

For one thing, teens who do not exercise are more likely to be obese, and obesity affects sleep quality. According to the study referred to above, chronic sleep deprivation affects teens’ immune systems, the cardiovascular system, and the brain (which, in teens, is still developing). Exercise has been shown to help in all these areas – cardiovascular, immune, and neurological systems are all said to be positively impacted by exercise.

Exercise also makes your teen tired in a good way, and research shows it reduces stress. Stress can really keep your teen up at night, so exercising may relieve that stress and improve sleep. Regular exercise also boosts the appetite, and if parents keep lots of healthy food around, teens may be more likely to eat even foods they have shunned in the past. Intake of more healthy food also helps promote overall health and, by extension, sleep quality.

Generally speaking, vigorous cardiovascular exercise is the best for promoting sleep. Stretching and other forms of exercise are certainly good for the body and may help promote relaxation, thus aiding sleep; but experts agree that at least 20 minutes of cardiovascular exercise – preferably in the afternoon – has the most benefit.

By using the sleep tips for teenagers in the above article, your teen will be on his/her path to a better nights sleep.

Real Life Guidance Guide to Understanding Your Teen This toolkit offers parenting help and help solve the mysteries in understanding your teen.

Many teenagers look forward to the holidays, especially Thanksgiving and Christmas, because it means they get a break from school. Of course, this means that they get more time to hang out with friends, stay up late and sleep in longer. While all these things are enjoyable and should be experienced by teens, there are a lot of unique activities that teens can do during their holiday breaks that will also bring them a sense of joy as well.

Bake Christmas Goodies to Give Away: A lot of times our children (especially teens) are so concerned about what they will get during the holidays that they don’t take time to think about making others happy during this time of the year. This is a perfect opportunity to get your teenagers to help you bake cookies and hand them out to your neighbors during the Christmas season. Who knows, this may be something that your teen enjoys doing so much that he or she continues doing it for years to come!

Handwrite Christmas Cards: Today is a day in which we use text messages, instant messages and emails to communicate with our friends. It’s safe to say that this is even truer for our teens because they’ve always had this type of communication. Therefore, talk to your teen about doing something unique this year for her friends at Christmas – personally write a Christmas card greeting and mail (gasp!) it to them!

Volunteer: Thanksgiving and Christmas aren’t just about spending time with family and getting presents. These holidays are also about spreading our “good cheer” and abundance with others. What better way to do this then by volunteering at a local homeless shelter serving food to the needy? It’s not very often that teens realize how fortunate they are, but when they volunteer at a homeless shelter or another place dedicated to helping the needy, they will not only appreciate all that they do have, but they will experience the joy that comes from helping someone in need.

Get a Real Christmas Tree: With the convenience of pre-lit Christmas trees that are ready to decorate within 5 minutes after coming out of the box, going out and hunting for a real Christmas tree seems to be a thing of the past. However, because it isn’t done on a normal basis, teens will most likely enjoy getting to pick out a real Christmas tree. Some places even let you chop it down yourself, which will be even more fun for teens. Then there is the process of trimming the tree once you get it home and finally decorating it. This is one activity that your teen (and family) is likely to enjoy doing because once it’s finished it brings a sense of accomplishment that isn’t easily obtained.

Shop for a Christmas Tree Angel: Another fun and unique holiday activity that teens can do is to shop for someone that isn’t likely to have a Christmas. Usually, the names of these children are found in department stores on Christmas trees…hence the name “Christmas Tree Angel.” Everything is there for your teen – the child’s age, clothing sizes and what he or she wants most for Christmas. All your teen has to do is go and pick out the items for the child, pay for it and (in most cases) leave it at the store so it can be wrapped and delivered to the child for Christmas. It is a very rewarding activity for teens, or anyone, to do.

Real Life Guidance Guide to Understanding Your Teen This toolkit offers parenting help and help solve the mysteries in understanding your teen.

For most parents, one of the most dreaded periods of time they face is when their kids get old enough to start dating…or the “teenage years.” Why? This is when parents actually have to “let go” and let their kids make their own decisions, and if you are a parent, then you know how terrifying this thought is. This is probably why the majority of parents try to talk to their teens about dating…to help them in their decision making.

Talking to your teens about dating is a good thing to do, in fact, so many parents don’t do it and it causes a lot of damage. However, there are several common mistakes that many parents make when they start talking to their teens about dating that can also cause damage when not corrected. These mistakes are below.

Speaking Negatively about the Opposite Sex. A lot of the time parents talk to their teenagers about the opposite sex in a negative light in order to “protect” them. It’s not done maliciously by parents or with the intent to turn off their teens from the opposite sex, but it can have a negative impact on teens, nonetheless. For instance, many parents with teenage daughters have a tendency to talk to them about boys by saying things like, “boys are only after one thing (sex) and once they get it, they’re going to be gone.” Now, this doesn’t mean parents don’t want their daughters to date boys, all it means (from the parents’ point of view) is that they want to prepare their daughters for what a boy might try on a date.

The problem with always bringing out the “faults” of the opposite sex to your teen is that these are the things your teen will focus on, or even look for, in the opposite sex and think that it’s just normal. This can lead to a string of bad relationships for your teen. For instance, if your daughter thinks all guys are after sex, then she may begin to think that having sex is just a natural part of dating because it’s “expected” of her. Therefore, it’s important for parents to also talk about the positive qualities of the opposite sex and how fun dating can be when it’s with a person who possess these qualities.

Trying to Play It Cool. If there’s one thing teens hate the most, it’s probably their parents trying to act cool when talking about dating and/or sex. While you want to be able to relate to your teen and what he/she is going through, you need to do so in your own way. When you are able to talk to your teens in your own unique way (not by trying to be “cool”) then your teens will see your honesty and take things you say seriously.

Constantly Asking What Their Status Is.  Another mistake many parents make when their teens are old enough to date is constantly asking them if they have a boyfriend or girlfriend. While you are just trying to keep the lines of communication open by expressing interest in what’s going on in your teen’s life, you are unknowingly putting pressure on your teen to date. If your teen isn’t dating and you are continuously asking if there is anyone he likes, then he may feel that the only way to appear “normal” to you, and everyone else, is to get a girlfriend. And, that may not be all he thinks he needs to do to prove that he’s normal. This doesn’t mean you can’t ever ask about your teen’s “status” – it just means you shouldn’t ask all the time. You’ll know when there’s someone your teen is interested in.

Here are some further resources for parenting teens:

• Real Life Guidance to Understanding Your Teen
• Out of Control Teen

Teen drivers are the highest risk for preventable accidents. Studies show that when monitored, teens improve their driving behaviors. iTeen365 is the most technologically advanced gps-based product that allows parents to set-up alerts and download driving reports to encourage their teen to be a responsible driver.  

iTeen365 In-Vehicle Monitoring Device Steers Teen Drivers in the Right Direction
Chicago, IL (PRWEB) October 12, 2011

Nationally, traffic crashes rank as the No. 1 cause of death for teen drivers, according to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. iTeen365 is the newest and most technologically advanced in-vehicle monitoring device that allows parents to keep an eye on how their teen is driving when they can’t be in the car with them. This promising new technology is designed to encourage safe driving habits among teens while giving parents peace of mind.

“Until now, parents had to trust that their teens were driving safely when they weren’t with them,” said Lisa Wolf, Spokesperson for iTrack365 – makers of iTeen365. “iTeen365’s innovative technology allows parents to act as driving coaches and monitor how well their teen is driving and obeying the traffic laws. Parents love that they can receive instant alerts if their teen is driving recklessly.”

A study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reports that equipping the cars teens drive with in-vehicle monitoring devices can help reduce the risks teens take. iTeen365 is designed to steer teens in the right direction by allowing parents to be virtual driving coaches. The program is easy to use and and allows parents to monitor their teen’s driving online in real-time, create driving reports, and set-up email alerts.

Key Features:

•      Tracking Data: Real-time visibility of vehicle’s location
•     Vehicle History Reports: Detailed driving reports. Up to 4 months of data available for viewing
•      Mapping: Easy online map view of vehicle location via integrated Google Maps
•      Speed Infringement Reports: See speeding infringements in different speed zones over a period of time.
•      Geo Fencings: Designate unapproved driving areas and locations.
•      Movement Alarms: Alerts any unapproved movement of the vehicle
•      Alerts / Email Notifications: Receive email alerts for when the vehicle leaves or comes into the area(s) you specify

iTeen365 can be purchased at http://www.iteen365.com for $289.95 (price includes installation) with monthly data plans starting as low at $17.95. After purchase, iTrack365 will coordinate for convenient installation of iTeen365 via a local authorized installation technician. Mobile installation available in select areas.

About iTrack365, Inc.:
iTrack365 has partnered with one of the world’s leading providers of telematics to offer a complete range of web-based GPS vehicle tracking and GPS fleet management solutions. Currently available in over 30 countries worldwide, the iTrack365 suite includes: iTeen365, iSenior365, iSpouse365, iFleet365, and iLease365. With advanced technologies, its own full end-to-end solution capabilities from the design of the hardware and software, to the web based hosting solution, iTrack365 has made this a convenient, user-friendly application for both individuals and companies of any size. For more information: http://www.iteen365.com / 866-900-2464. “Like” us at: http://www.facebook.com/Iteen365