Tips for Parents of Adolescents
National Center for
Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
Health Topics CDC addresses six critical types of adolescent health behavior that research shows contribute to the leading causes of death and disability among adults and youth:
Alcohol & Drug Use Alcohol abuse is the third leading preventable cause of death in the United States (4% of the total deaths in 2000), and is a factor in approximately 41% of all deaths from motor vehicle crashes. Talk to your child about alcohol. Set a good example. Have your child make a promise that if there is a dangerous situation they will call you immediately and help them to return to safety. Injury & Violence (including suicide) Injury and violence is the leading cause of death among youth aged 10-24 years: motor vehicle crashes (37% of all deaths), all other unintentional injuries (16%), homicide (18%), and suicide (13%). Seat belt use is a 100% necessity for driver and passenger. Limit the number of teens in the car. When there are greater than 3 teens in ateen driver car, the risk of accident increases by 300%. Sit down to dinner most nights and discuss how your teen is doing (friends, pressures, as well as highlights of their day)
Tobacco Use Every day about 4,000 American youth aged 12–17 years try their first cigarette. It is estimated that smoking causes 435,000 deaths each year in the United States. Set the example. Children of smokers are more likely to smoke. Despite that statistic even with smokers as parents: if a parent counsels a child on non-smoking it IS effective.
Nutrition Almost 80% of young people do not eat the recommended servings of fruits and vegetables. Nearly 9 million youth in the United States aged 6–19 years are overweight. Have delicious fresh fruit and vegetables handy for snack, serve with meals (baby carrots, green grapes, tomatoes are all great favorites)
Physical Activity Participation in physical activity declines as children get older. Overall, in 2005, 36% of 9-12 graders had participated in at least 60 minutes per day of physical activity. Nearly 37% of 9th graders, but only 33% of 12th graders, participated in 60 minutes of physical activity on a regular basis. Build in family fun activities: sports, bike riding, train for marathons or local races together.
Sexual Risk Behaviors Each year, there are approximately 19 million new STD infections in the United States, and almost half of them are among youth aged 15 to 24. Thirty-four percent of young women become pregnant at least once before they reach the age of 20. Stress the importance of self esteem, not caving to peer pressure, discuss this topically openly, discuss abstinence and well as health promotion and disease prevention.
These behaviors usually are established during childhood, persist into adulthood, are inter-related, and are preventable. In addition to causing serious health problems, these behaviors also contribute to the educational and social problems that confront the nation, including failure to complete high school, unemployment, and crime.
Health Topics CDC addresses six critical types of adolescent health behavior that research shows contribute to the leading causes of death and disability among adults and youth:
Alcohol & Drug Use Alcohol abuse is the third leading preventable cause of death in the United States (4% of the total deaths in 2000), and is a factor in approximately 41% of all deaths from motor vehicle crashes. Talk to your child about alcohol. Set a good example. Have your child make a promise that if there is a dangerous situation they will call you immediately and help them to return to safety. Injury & Violence (including suicide) Injury and violence is the leading cause of death among youth aged 10-24 years: motor vehicle crashes (37% of all deaths), all other unintentional injuries (16%), homicide (18%), and suicide (13%). Seat belt use is a 100% necessity for driver and passenger. Limit the number of teens in the car. When there are greater than 3 teens in ateen driver car, the risk of accident increases by 300%. Sit down to dinner most nights and discuss how your teen is doing (friends, pressures, as well as highlights of their day)
Tobacco Use Every day about 4,000 American youth aged 12–17 years try their first cigarette. It is estimated that smoking causes 435,000 deaths each year in the United States. Set the example. Children of smokers are more likely to smoke. Despite that statistic even with smokers as parents: if a parent counsels a child on non-smoking it IS effective.
Nutrition Almost 80% of young people do not eat the recommended servings of fruits and vegetables. Nearly 9 million youth in the United States aged 6–19 years are overweight. Have delicious fresh fruit and vegetables handy for snack, serve with meals (baby carrots, green grapes, tomatoes are all great favorites)
Physical Activity Participation in physical activity declines as children get older. Overall, in 2005, 36% of 9-12 graders had participated in at least 60 minutes per day of physical activity. Nearly 37% of 9th graders, but only 33% of 12th graders, participated in 60 minutes of physical activity on a regular basis. Build in family fun activities: sports, bike riding, train for marathons or local races together.
Sexual Risk Behaviors Each year, there are approximately 19 million new STD infections in the United States, and almost half of them are among youth aged 15 to 24. Thirty-four percent of young women become pregnant at least once before they reach the age of 20. Stress the importance of self esteem, not caving to peer pressure, discuss this topically openly, discuss abstinence and well as health promotion and disease prevention.
These behaviors usually are established during childhood, persist into adulthood, are inter-related, and are preventable. In addition to causing serious health problems, these behaviors also contribute to the educational and social problems that confront the nation, including failure to complete high school, unemployment, and crime.