Don’t feel alone as many other people experience the same struggles almost everyday. Teens enjoy labeling themselves as “night owls,” sharing stories of all-nighters and sleeping the entire Saturday away. Though teenagers and their sleeping habits can aggravate parents, they are partly caused by physical changes during puberty. “Teens experience a natural shift in circadian rhythm,” says Laura Sterni, M.D., a sleep expert. It makes falling asleep before 11 p.m. more difficult. Add in early school start times, more homework, extracurricular activities, possibly a part-time job, and sleep deprivation in teens become common. Sterni, on the other hand, believes that parents must assist teens in doing their best because this age group requires more sleep than we may realize. You may wonder how much sleep is enough. Teens need 9 to 12 hours of sleep per night, according to an expert pediatrician —an hour or so more than they did at age 10. Teenagers will be in the second stage of cognitive maturation. It is the reason why they need more sleep. Extra sleep helps their developing brain and physical growth spurts. It also protects them from serious consequences such as depression or drug abuse. It is proven scientifically that teens are not sleeping adequately. They need at least 9 to 12 hours of sleep every day to stay well. While you may only sometimes be able to get this much, it is vital to try and get as much as you can. There are many reasons behind not getting enough rest. Some will be under your control, while others may not. You will have a busy life, but still, you need downtime to relax. It happens at the expense of sleep. Many teenagers crave the quiet privacy of a late night after their parents have gone to bed. When you think about other things that you need to do, like homework, Sports, chores, socializing, and part-time jobs, getting to bed early enough to get 8 to 10 hours of rest can be pretty hard.