Students who fall asleep in class

BarcelonaWe should all get a little more sleep, especially during the week. What's not normal is seeing the faces of some students first thing in the morning. Not to mention those who simply oversleep or arrive late. Many get up alone at home and, in their rush, don't have breakfast and don't have time to get ready for lunch at recess.

They immediately put their heads on their desks, especially if the heating is already on, and literally fall asleep. I like to ask them why they come into class looking like lost souls. The answers (when they wake up) are quite telling. They go to bed too late, or outrageously late. At two or three in the morning! Some would say they fall asleep by accident, not by choice. And the main reason is that after dinner, these students have no control whatsoever over their screen time.

Unfortunately, too many parents go to bed without making sure their children have turned off their phones, tablets, or laptops. Sometimes they do, but the device is still in the room, and the temptation is very strong for a teenager. Clearly, academic performance suffers, and we, as parents, have to provide family guidance that, with a little common sense, we could avoid.

The flowerpots resemble the pots

But the saying is true, and that's why flowerpots resemble pots. Some students survive because they spend their afternoons sleeping and their sleep schedules are completely disrupted. Those with family on the other side of the world are a different story. Sometimes they tell me they chat with them, but always using American time. One of the most elaborate excuses students give for not losing control of their phones is that they need them as alarm clocks. Undoubtedly, that's true; it keeps them awake, but without them getting the necessary rest. Many parents accept this deceptive function of the alarm clock and don't realize they're being taken advantage of.

My kids and I are clear on this, although it requires constant effort and firmness. First, I'm the last one to go to bed at home because I make sure all electronic devices are properly switched off and put away. Second, I wake up every morning to a battery-operated alarm clock (rechargeable ones, which are less polluting and don't emit radiation). And it's never let me down. Besides, since I'm used to going to bed and waking up at the same time every day, my own body tells me to open my eyes when it's time. Just so you know, I'm not getting any commission, but this could be a nice (and inexpensive) Christmas present for our sleepy teenagers.