Teens (12-18)

Recently Answered

• QWhat are common coping behaviors for hospitalized teenagers?

  1 Answer

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  A Alliance For Kids® answered

  Common coping behaviors for hospitalized teenagers include the following:

  • defense mechanisms
  • intellectualization (finding out everything there is to know about why they are in the hospital)
  • conformity (giving in, often seen as withdrawal)
  • uncooperative behavior

  This content originally appeared on the Alliance for Kids website.
• QWhat are some developmental milestones for teenagers?

  1 Answer

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  A Alliance For Kids® answered

  Developmental milestones for teenagers include the following:

  • socialization
  • rapidly changing body image
  • need for privacy
  • increasing independence and responsibility
  • struggle to develop self identity
  • use of deductive reasoning and abstract thought

  This content originally appeared on the Alliance for Kids website.
• QHow can I help improve my teen's self-confidence?

  2 Answers

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  A Dr. Michael Roizen, MD , Internal Medicine, answered

  Teens often have meltdowns about going back to school -- maybe because it's in a new town, or first period is with an infamous teacher, or it means starting over as a freshman after a glorious year in the ruling class or it's just hormones.
  
  These tips will make teens healthier, happier and more confident. If they're already doing some, great! Let them check those off and tackle two new ones for three weeks each -- long enough to become habits. That's your goal. Here's our list:
  

  1. Realize that you control what goes into your body.
  2. Floss and brush for at least two minutes twice a day.
  3. Sleep 8.5 to 9 hours a night.
  4. Make your waist size less than half your height.
  5. Exercise every day (walking 30 minutes counts).
  6. Commit to not texting while driving. Wear a seat belt.
  7. Online, know that what you post is forever. Be smart about whom u txt.
  8. Wear a helmet when cycling, skating, skiing, snowboarding, skateboarding or rock climbing.
  9. Find a buddy to do healthy things with.
  10. Have a passion, and do it as often as you can!

  
  

  See All 2 Answers
• QHow can I help my teenager cope with hospitalization?

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  A Alliance For Kids® answered

  To help your teenager cope with hospitalization, try the following:

  • respect and maintain privacy
  • involve your teenager in self care
  • allow peers to visit
  • communicate honestly
  • discuss potential psychological and physical changes
  • address potential long term issues
  • provide opportunity for open discussion and guidance
  • help your teenager keep up with school work

  This content originally appeared on the Alliance for Kids website.
   
• QHow can I prepare my teenager for hospitalization?

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  A Alliance For Kids® answered

  Begin preparing your teenager for hospitalization a couple weeks to a month ahead of time. This will give your teenager time to prepare, talk to family and friends and gather information.
  
  For teenagers, independence is very important, so encourage your teenager to ask questions of doctors and nurses and to be as involved with self care as is appropriate. Give as much information as you think your teen can handle and reinforce positive coping mechanisms. Respect your teenager's need for privacy, and also help him or her keep in contact with school and friends. Encourage your teenager to make phone calls to friends, Skype and/or email. They can even hang pictures of their friends on their hospital room walls and have friends visit.
  
  This content originally appeared on the Alliance for Kids website.
• QWhat are some stressors hospitalized teenagers may experience?

  1 Answer

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  A Alliance For Kids® answered

  Some stressors that hospitalized teenagers may experience include the following:

  • lack of trust
  • loss of independence and control
  • threat of change in body image
  • restriction of physical activities
  • loss of peer acceptance and/or fear of rejection
  • threat to bodily competence
  • threat to future
  • fear of death
  • isolation
  • limited caregiver involvement

  This content originally appeared on the Alliance for Kids website.
• QHow should I talk to my teenager about sex?

  2 Answers

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  A Dr. Mehmet Oz, MD , Cardiology (Cardiovascular Disease), answered

  

  Are you having trouble figuring out the best time to discuss with your teenager?
  
  Watch as Dr. Jennifer Ashton and Dr. Oz talk about the best time for parents to discuss sex with their teenagers in this video.

  
  

  

  Find out more about this DVD:

  How Should I Talk to My Teenager About Sex?
  Buy DVD

  See All 2 Answers
• QWhat gynecological problems can affect teenage girls?

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  A Dr. Scott C. Makemson, MD , OBGYN (Obstetrics & Gynecology), answered on behalf of Carolinas HealthCare System

  Adolescent gynecology conditions can include:

  • breast masses
  • abnormal puberty, precocious (early) or delayed
  • amenorrhea (absence of periods after puberty begins)
  • menstrual abnormalities (frequent or heavy periods)
  • dysmenorrhea (significant pain with periods)
  • menstrual regulation in young women with developmental/mental delay
  • pelvic/ovarian cysts or masses
  • structural or anatomic abnormalities of the reproductive tract (imperforate hymen)
• QHow can I help my child handle teasing from other children?

  2 Answers

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  A Dr. Charles J. Sophy, MD , Adolescent Medicine, answered

  Many parents have their own unresolved issues from their childhood, so look inside and clear it up. 
  
  Then communicate on a regular basis with your child so you hear their concerns early in the process, and they feel safe and that they are heard by you. 
  
  Also help them realize their own coping skills and assist them in sharpening them and attaining new and improved ones as they get older and are capable of more sophisticated communication tools.
   
  Realize that this is all part of the growing up process, however, if you feel the level it may reach is not comfortable for you to manage, reach out to your school, or community for support and assistance. 
  

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• QWhat can I do to rein in my child's bossiness?

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  A Dr. Michele Borba , Psychology, answered

  Here is a behavior makeover to help curb a child's bossy streak.

  One of the best ways is to teach a few oldie but goodies that emphasize the golden rules of fairness so bossy kids start to consider the needs of others.

  Grandma's Rule: If you cut the cake, the other child chooses which piece to take. No take backs: One the rules of a game or trade agreed, you may not take back the object or changing the rules unless the other person agrees. Then shake on it. Teach younger kids to set an oven timer or stop watch. They agree to a fair amount of time for using a toy, and when the timer goes off, their turn is up and the toy is passed on.

  Of course, the best way to help kids curb their bossiness is by emphasizing the skills of give and take like compromising and negotiating. And the best way to teach them is by modeling them so your child can copy from you.

  Whatever you try remember to consistently use the method until you do get the change you want.