Ah, June. The month of strawberries, sunsets and sinking your toes into warm beach sand for the very first time of the summer.

For our kids, though, June brings something even sweeter: it brings sleep. Middle- and high-school students will not climb onto school buses at 6:58 a.m. They will not need to fight the circadian rhythm that keeps them up at midnight and groggy until noon. And, during this glorious first month of summer, early start times will not contribute to the epidemic of sleep deprivation that plagues our adolescents.

Researchers say early school start times are a big reason an awful lot of today’s kids are sleep-deprived, which makes them vulnerable to disease, messes with their moods, and makes it harder to learn. Teens who are sleep-deprived or functioning with a sleep debt will more likely experience depression and difficulty relating to peers and parents. They are also more likely to use alcohol and other drugs. No wonder our kids can’t wait to bag the books and hit the sheets.

But teens can’t resist the lure of June events like graduation and beach parties, which do tempt them out of bed and often stretch late into balmy summer nights.

Driving Drowsy Adds Up to Danger
When it comes to formal proms and graduation-night itself, more and more schools and community organizations are sponsoring all-night parties as a substance-free outlet for end-of-year celebrations. Once school is out and kids plan their own events, it falls to parents to take a more active role in ensuring that their kids party safe.

Parents know enough to warn their kids about the dangers of using alcohol and drugs. Yet, how many know that a late night of music, dancing and movies can also send partygoers out on the road unfit to drive safely? The familiar culprit, according to education expert Dr. Edward Dragan: lack of sleep. The kids are exhausted even before the night begins.

“Lack of sleep is as deadly as alcohol on the road late at night,” says Dragan.

One research study showed that at 17 hours without sleep, average impairment is roughly equal to a blood alcohol concentration level of 0.05. At 24 hours, the BAC equivalent is 0.10—legally drunk in all 50 states.

Rest Up and Stay Safe
As Michigan teens head into a summer season of late-night celebrations, it’s a good time to talk about what kinds of behavior you expect from them. And while most teens have been bombarded with the dangers of booze and drugs, very few know how the lack of sleep can mess with their minds and bodies.

“Parents can minimize the risk by making sure their teens get plenty of rest the day of any late-night event,” says Dragan.

He recommends these tips to help prevent outings that end in tragedy:

• 1. Talk to your children about evening plans and the dangers of parties. Make sure they know your expectations about drinking, rest, and safety before events.
• 2. Provide safe transportation the morning after. If a school or group sponsoring an all-night party doesn’t provide safe transit, make sure your child will be picked up in the morning rather than allowing him or her to drive.
• 3. Ask the school or other parents what sort of activities are planned. Get the assurances you need.
• 4. Allow for plenty of rest the day of the event. Get them home early the night before. Let them sleep late if it’s not a school day. Avoid scheduling work the afternoon of the event. Tell them to relax, take a nap and get ready early.
• 5. Feed them a good dinner so they don’t run out of energy.
• 6. Name a designated driver who is committed to staying sober and alert, keeping safety at the top of their minds.
• 7. Volunteer to drive for the evening, especially after the party.
• 8. Know where they are going to be, when and with whom.
• 9. Keep in touch by cell phone.
• 10. Be available to pick them up if they need help.

Losing Sleep Affects Learning, Too
While you’re at it, summer may be a good time to read the latest research about how lack of sleep can prevent kids from learning at school. In fact, a growing number of schools are shifting start times for teenagers as research on the physical and mental benefits of later starting times moves from scholarly journals to school board debates.

These decisions don’t come easily or without discussion. Letting teens sleep later usually means logistical and other trade-offs that ripple throughout the day. But for some districts that find they often save money while protecting kids’ health, the change seems worth it.

To learn more, read a March 22, 2006, article, “Later High School Start Times a Reaction to Research” in Education Week, online.