From playing video games all night to trying to complete missed schoolwork or study for a test, sleep deprivation has a tremendous effect on everyone, especially kids and teens who don’t get enough sleep before going to school.

Sleep deprivation can affect a child’s learning, concentration, and attitude towards their teachers, family, and peers. The most common effects of sleep deprivation, according to Stanford Medicine, are being unable to concentrate, depression, dropping grades, thoughts of harming oneself, and anxiety. In 2011, a sleep poll was released by Stanford Medicine, and by the time it was over, it was shown that the average U.S. teenager gets 6.9 hours of sleep, which is pretty different from the 8.4 hours on average for a sixth grader.

According to Dr. Yuan, sleep deprivation, “…certainly plays into learning and memory. It plays into appetite, metabolism, and weight gain. It plays into mood and emotion, which are already heightened at that age. It also plays into risk behaviors…” This is concerning due to the fact that teenagers have lots to remember and learn during their years in school, they are encouraged to stay healthy, and their emotions and moods can be confusing to others and themselves daily.          

In short, teenagers need 8-10 hours of sleep every night, and should not stay up doing unnecessary things or catching up with work if it’s going to affect their immediate health. Sleep is required for everyone, and sleep deprivation can be extremely harmful. Listen to your parents when they tell you to go to sleep. They’re only trying to help.

Karina Garchitorena, Staff Writer

Sophomore Karina Garchitorena is a staff writer for the 2025-2026 Colonel News site. She likes watching movies, cats, and drawing.