The following information comes from the Kaiser Family Foundation website in a report called Children’s Media Use and Sleep Problems: Issues and Unanswered Questions.

Research shows that poor sleep causes a wide variety of problems among children. Many of the issues faced by parents and pediatricians -- from obesity to aggression to hyperactivity -- are caused or increased by inadequate sleep.

A lot of people don't know that while the body rests, the brain does not. The first system to suffer from poor sleep is the brain's ability to organize activities and pay attention. These are referred to as executive functions.

If you pay attention to trends among people working with adolescents, one word you'll hear frequently is "mentor".

A mentor is an individual, usually older and always more experienced, who helps and guides another individual’s development without having a goal of personal gain.

Some professions have "mentoring programs" where newcomers are paired with more experienced employees who advise and guide them as they advance. Schools sometimes offer mentoring programs to new students, or to students having difficulties.