Sleep isn’t just something that happens at night – it affects how you feel, think and cope every single day. From concentration in lessons to mood, motivation and mental health, sleep plays a huge role in teenage life.
This February, we’re marking Children’s Sleep Awareness Month 2026, shining a spotlight on why sleep matters for children and young people — and how schools, families and teens themselves can take simple steps to improve it.
This year’s theme: Teach Sleep
In partnership with YouHQ, this year’s theme is “Teach Sleep”, focusing on sleep education in schools. The aim is to help young people understand how sleep works, why it’s important and what actually helps when sleep feels hard.
We know that telling teens to “just go to bed earlier” doesn’t work. Sleep is complex – especially during adolescence, when body clocks shift, school pressures increase and screens are everywhere. Teaching sleep properly gives young people the tools to make changes that actually fit real life.
Why sleep matters (the data backs it up)
Recent wellbeing data from YouHQ shows just how closely sleep is linked to how pupils feel in school. Sleep is one of the biggest influences on daily mood – and when sleep is poor, it’s the number one contributor to negative mood.
That means sleep can affect:
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Focus and memory in lessons
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Emotional regulation and behaviour
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Motivation and attendance
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Stress, anxiety and resilience
Put simply: when sleep improves, everything else feels more manageable.
How schools can help
Schools play a powerful role in shaping attitudes towards sleep. By including sleep education, schools can help pupils:
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Understand their own sleep needs
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Spot habits that might be getting in the way of good rest
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Learn practical strategies they can use straight away
Taking part in Children’s Sleep Awareness Month is an easy way to start these conversations and support student wellbeing.
What’s in the Supporter’s Pack?
To support schools, teachers, parents and young people, we’ve created a free downloadable Supporter’s Pack with resources for both primary and secondary ages.
Inside you’ll find:
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Lesson plans and activities for different age groups
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Interactive quizzes and discussion prompts
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Posters for classrooms, corridors and communal spaces
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Calming soundscapes from HushAway to support relaxation and winding down
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Sleep advice sheets for parents and carers
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Social media graphics to help spread the message
Everything is free, printable and easy to use – whether you’re a teacher planning a lesson or a teen looking for ways to sleep better.
For teens: small changes, real impact
Better sleep doesn’t mean being perfect. It’s about experimenting with small changes – like winding down differently, using sound to relax, understanding caffeine, or creating a routine that works for you.
This month is about learning, not judging. Everyone struggles with sleep sometimes – and that’s okay.
Get involved
Whether you’re a school, teacher, parent or young person, you can take part:
👉 Download the free Children’s Sleep Awareness Month Supporter’s Pack:
https://thesleepcharity.org.uk/get-involved/awareness-events/
Let’s make February a month where sleep is talked about, understood and supported — because good sleep helps young people feel more like themselves.
