Do you fall asleep in class?
Do you fall asleep while you do your homework?
Have you ever driven a car while you were drowsy?
Have you ever been late or missed class because you overslept?

If you answered "YES!" to any of these questions, then you are not alone. A 2006 National Sleep Foundation survey of adolescents and teenagers (ages 11-17 years) indicates that many kids are not getting enough sleep. In fact, only 20% of kids between the ages of 11-17 years gets the recommended nine hours of sleep on school nights; 45% of these kids sleep fewer than eight hours on school nights.

Let's take a closer look at statistics from the survey:

• 8.4 hours = time the average 6th grader sleeps on school nights
• 9.2 hours = time the average 6th grader sleeps on nonschool nights
• 6.9 hours = time the average 12th grader sleeps on school nights
• 8.4 hours = time the average 12th grader sleeps on nonschool nights
• 11.7 hours = number of hours of sleep lost by 12th grader each week
• 22% - percent of high school students who fall asleep doing homework
• 14% - percent of high school students who arrive late or miss school because they oversleep
• 15% - percent of 10th-12th grade students who drive drowsy at least once a week

The National Sleep Foundation and other experts have the following suggestions for a good night's sleep:

• Have a regular sleep schedule: go to sleep and wake up at the same time each day.
• Use a regular sleep "routine." For example, read or take a shower each night before bedtime.
• Avoid caffeinated drinks and vigorous exercise in the late afternoon and evening.
• Try to only spend time in your bed when you are actually sleeping, so that your mind associates the bed with sleeping.
• Do not study, watch TV or use a computer right before you go to sleep. Remove the TV and computer from your bedroom.