Teens: Unplug and Unwind

If you find that your tween or teen is wound up before bedtime, it may be time to put some restrictions on screen time and cellphone use. "Texting and computer games are both very stimulating activities, and engaging in these later in the evening—especially when you’re talking about an adolescent who’s already physically inclined to fall asleep later at night—will only accentuate the problem," says Dr. Eva Libman, a sleep researcher associated with McGill University in Montreal. "Ideally, electronic socializing and stimulating computer games should be kept to an absolute minimum during the week, with more liberal access on weekends. The time before bed should be spent in a more quiet and relaxing way; reading, or listening to mellow music."