Supportive Article: Teenagers

It’s not easy being a parent and sometimes when you’re in the thick of it, you don’t recognize all the pitfalls; we need help, but sometimes don’t know it. There are many changes I would have made about how I parented my own kids, had I had a bit more information about what to look for. Having friends who had no problem talking about their teens and their trials and tribulations was so helpful. It really does take a village to raise a child.

Education and information are key for teens, as well as their parent’s, physical and mental health. I also found as a parent that our own personal dramas could usurp our good intentions for our children. If as a parent you need help yourself, speak to a counselor or trusted friend.

Community Youth/Teen Centers are an excellent way to involve teens and their parents or caregivers. Many centers offer programs beginning with middle school kids, setting the groundwork for healthy teen years. There is an excellent program based in New Hampshire, which is well organized and well attended. Programs include life-skills such as art, cooking, environmental education and community counseling.

After researching health clinics and youth centers, I find that the majority of information and programs offered for teenagers focused on sex– sexually transmitted diseases, pregnancy and the avoidance thereof. Digging deeper one will find that teen pregnancy can be statistically linked to lower self-esteem and self-concept, which can in part be linked to obesity and all the factors therein such as lack of health-supporting foods, physical activity and increased television hours. Some teen pregnancies can be linked to the simple fact that hormones are driving the bus and if a teen does become pregnant, then pregnancy and life skills counseling needs to be immediately available, including the imperative factors as the need for the young parents to at least finish high school and for the mother to obtain proper nutrition.

The state of Oklahoma offers a child advocacy program wherein they state the cycle of poverty, uninsured children, early school and behavioral problems being useful predictors of teen pregnancy. Children of teen mothers are more likely to become teen mothers themselves and often times drop out of school, which, naturally, affects their self-esteem. The hope is that this vicious circle can be halted or at least slowed with education. Oklahoma states that the more public health centers available the lower the teen pregnancy rates. Realistically, new public health clinics are not going to be popping up anytime soon, so community centers have never been more important.

Community begins in the home and ripples outward from there. Those of us who made it through the teen years should be mentoring parents of teens and the teens themselves. Our countries kids are health-wise in sad shape and we need to join together and make some significant changes and working together we will. A family is a community; groups of kids are a community and many of us understand that the yearning for community is palpable and profound.

Here are some tips:

• Kids who eat at least one meal a day with their families are shown to obtain better grades, are less likely to take drugs and have a greater sense of self, thus reducing risk behaviors, including unprotected sex.
• Set an example for good health. Offer nutritious foods and ask for help preparing meals. You might get the rolled-eyes look, but if you give your teen a job preparing food they like it will help. If you make burritos, as an example, have them sauté veggies to add to them, or simply grate some cheese. It’s connection and that is imperative. Sometimes you might not know for years if it is working (this I know) but it’s worth the effort and as much patience as you can muster.
• Set limits for television and computer time.
• Encourage exercise and again, set an example.

Good luck!
Patty