Question

To support adolescents' later sleeping schedule, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released recommendations that schools should not start any earlier than:

1) 7:30 AM
2) 8:00 AM
3) 8:30 AM
4) 9:00 AM

Answer 1

The CDC recommends that schools should not start earlier than 8:30 AM to support adolescents' later sleeping schedule, enabling them to get the recommended amount of sleep for optimal health and school performance.

Step-by-step explanation:

To support adolescents' later sleeping schedule, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend that schools should not start any earlier than 8:30 AM. This recommendation considers the sleep patterns of teenagers and the importance of adequate sleep for their health and school performance. Many students struggle with getting the recommended 7-9 hours of sleep due to various factors, including overwhelming schedules and stress. Understanding the value of sleep across the lifespan, it's clear that the amount of sleep needed changes. With adolescents, a later school start time can contribute to better sleep habits and, consequently, improved alertness and mental efficiency.

• Stick to a sleep schedule, even on weekends.
• Avoid stimulating activities for an hour before bed, such as exercise and bright light exposure from devices.
• Ensure daily exercise but not right before sleep.

These practices can help students manage their sleep schedules and avoid accumulating a sleep debt, which can have negative effects on alertness and performance.