ABSTRACT
This chapter covers the topic of sleep for young people. We have learnt that the sleep patterns of teenagers are not the same as those of adults, and this fact has profound implications for our understanding of adolescence. The hormone melatonin is released in our brains at night, making us sleepy and preparing us to go to bed. Research has shown that melatonin is released later in the teenage brain than in the adult brain, making it harder for young people to get to sleep. If teenagers have to get up for school, it is probable that they will be getting less sleep than is necessary for them. Research has also shown that the brain is active while we sleep, and a number of things happen during the night that are extremely important for young people. These include the release of growth hormones, the consolidation of memories laid down during the day, and the recycling of waste products in the brain. A sleep deficit can impact on learning and on emotion regulation. The chapter outlines some of the interventions that have been developed to address this issue. None have been entirely successful, but the more parents are involved in these interventions, the more effective they are likely to be.
