nutch_noindex
Search Icon
    Menu Button
    Stanford Medicine Children's Health
    DonateContactMyChart LoginFind a Doctor
    • Second Opinion
    • Donate
    • Contact
    • Refer a Patient
    • En Español
    • Our Locations
    • Medical Services
    • About Us
    • Research & Innovation
    • Patients & Visitors
    • For Health Professionals
    • Second Opinion
    • Donate
    • En Español
    • MyChart Login
    • Recently Visited
      • Our Locations
      • Medical Services
      • About Us
      • Research & Innovation
      • Patients & Visitors
      • For Health Professionals
      CANCEL
      • View More Results

      Loading...

      COVID-2019 Alert

      The latest information about the 2019 Novel Coronavirus, including vaccine clinics for children ages 6 months and older.

      La información más reciente sobre el nuevo Coronavirus de 2019, incluidas las clínicas de vacunación para niños de 6 meses en adelante.

      /nutch_noindex

       


      August 2019

      Sleep, Exercise, Screen Time: Help Your Teen Adopt Healthy Habits

      Think your teenager is getting enough sleep and exercise? Think again. Only 5% of U.S. teens are meeting these goals, according to a recent study. And researchers found most teens are also falling short on another important recommendation—getting no more than 2 hours of screen time a day. Not meeting these three goals may put kids’ physical and mental health at risk, as well as affect their behavior and academic achievement.  

      Teens smiling, ready to do push-ups outdoors

      Getting enough sleep and exercise

      Experts recommend teens ages 13 to 18 get 8 to 10 hours of sleep a night and log at least 1 hour of physical activity every day. These 2 activities are often interconnected: Being active will also help your teen sleep better. Here’s how to help your kids meet these goals:

      • Encourage your teens to join a sport that interests them. The more they enjoy it, the more likely they are to stick with it.

      • Find activities to do together. Try taking a walk after dinner, going for a bike ride, or trying out a new sport, such as rock climbing, yoga, or marital arts.

      • For a good night’s sleep, set firm rules around screen time before bed. Experts recommend keeping all screens out of kids’ bedrooms and avoiding screen time at least 1 hour before bedtime.

      • Be a good role model. If your kids see you enjoying physical activity, it’s more likely they will, too. The same goes for getting enough shut-eye.

      Keeping screen time healthy

      Time spent in front of a screen is mostly sedentary and often solitary. This can lead to problems with physical and emotional health. Here are some ways to keep your teen’s screen time in check:

      • Make mealtimes screen-free. Ban cell phones from the table and keep the TV off.

      • Share some screen time together. Use the opportunity to discuss difficult topics that arise in a movie or TV show.

      • Set limits on how much time your teen spends in front of a screen and stick to them.

      • Follow the rules yourself. You’re an important role model and your kids will learn by your behavior.  

      Related Topics

      • Sleep, Exercise, Screen Time: Help Your Teen Adopt Healthy Habits
      • How and Why to Keep a Training Log
      • Making Family Fitness Fun

        nutch_noindex
        • About Us
        • Contact
        • MyChart Login
        • Careers
        • Blog
        • Refer a Patient
        • Download from App Store Download From Google Play
        • Notice of Nondiscrimination
        • Terms of Use
        • Privacy Policy
        • Code of Conduct

        © 2023 Stanford Medicine Children's Health

        About

        • About Us
        • Our Hospital
        • Patient Stories
        • Blog
        • News
        • Send a Greeting Card
        • New Hospital
        • Careers

        Connect

        • Donate
        • Refer a Patient
        • Contact Us
        • Pay Your Bill

        Find

        • Doctors
        • Locations
        • Services
        • Classes
        Download from App Store Download From Google Play

        Also Find Us on:

        • facebook
        • twitter
        • youtube
        • linkedin
        US News & World Report Badge
        • Stanford Medicine
        • Stanford University
        • Stanford Health Care
        • Lucile Packard Foundation
        • Notice of Nondiscrimination
        • Terms of Use
        • Privacy Policy
        • Code of Conduct
        • © 2023 Stanford MEDICINE Children's Health
        /nutch_noindex
        shareprint