Teens – Tools for parents

With studies showing that more than half of North America’s teenagers have experienced sexual intercourse by the age of 18, educating kids about sex is something all parents need to do.

The best way to ensure that your teenager talks to you is to make sure that, as parents, you share this value or attitude with your child from day one.

Understand your teen and communicate effectively.

You can’t keep your teen under your wing forever. Yet, you can build a great parent-teen relationship.

The statistics are sad and frightening: in Canada, suicide accounts for 24% of all deaths among 15-24 year olds.

Computers and the Internet have become an important part of our lives, and our children’s lives. Youngsters spend time online messaging, chatting, searching and surfing. Although most of these Internet experiences are likely positive, parents need to be aware of the dangers to better protect their children.

Parents have an important role to play in the physical and psychological development of their child. It’s important to have information on eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia.

What is puberty? Growing up. Everyone goes through the same process. Whether you start at age nine or at age fifteen, it’s all “normal.’’You are still you inside. Your body and feelings are changing at their own pace. Growing up can be a great experience: a time of changing and finding out who you are.

Your teen is about to get his driver’s licence. You are proud, but also afraid?

The leading substance-abuse threat to children may be as close as your refrigerator. 

Every day, about 3,000 north american teenagers start smoking. If you’re a parent of a young smoker, you can take steps to help your child quit. But first, it helps to understand why teens light up.

Is your teen experimenting with drugs? If you think so, you need to act quickly to help him.

A common ingredient in many cough and cold remedies has become a popular substance to abuse by teenagers searching for a cheap, easy high.

It’s a fact of teenage life: When puberty hits, acne often does, too…Useful tips.

Acne is a skin condition that causes blemishes on the face, back, chest, or upper arms. Having acne can be very upsetting. You may feel less attractive. And it may seem as though your skin will never clear up. In time, your acne may go away by itself. But treatment can help to control your acne now. Read on to learn more.

Your acne treatment will work best if you follow your treatment plan. Acne often takes months to improve, so you will need to be patient. Ask your doctor when you can expect your skin to look better. If your skin does not improve by your goal date, call your doctor. He or she may want to try some other type of treatment.

Better health for your teen could be as close as your breadbox. The more whole grains teenagers eat, the leaner they are and the less likely they are to develop diabetes, a recent University of Minnesota study found. With obesity and diabetes rising among children, that’s a slice of good news.