This excerpt from Take Charge of Your Child's Sleep: The All-in-One Resource for Solving Sleep Problems in Kids and Teens was used with permission from Marlowe & Company, copyright 2005.

By Judy Owens and Jodi Mindell

John is twelve years old. He's a typical middle-schooler, and takes karate lessons once a week and on Saturdays, plays soccer in a local league, and is in the church choir. He usually drinks Mountain Dew or Coke at lunch and dinner. His parents try to watch what he eats, as he has a tendency to be a bit overweight. Most nights after completing his homework, he heads up to his room. There he watches television, plays computer games, and instant messages his friends until it's time to go to bed.

John is a fairly typical twelve-year-old, one whose life is full of sleep stealers that neither he nor his parents are aware of. Caffeine, multiple after-school activities, a tendency to be overweight, and a room full of electronics are all par for the course these days. But all of these things can rob your child of a good night's sleep. These top four common sleep-stealers are discussed here, as well as what you can do to help your child get the sleep that he needs.