11 - 18 Years | Download to Print

“ Normal” Developmental Stages of Adolescents
Ages 11-14: Heightened awareness of pubertal changes and extreme focus on body image.
Socializing with same-sex peers, often in groups, through close friends are also important.
Ages 14-17: Independence and separation from parents, mood swings, rebellion conflict in all areas.
Participation in various social/religious/athletic/political groups, often with “hero worship.”
Exploration of more intimate social relationships.
Ages 17-21: Separation and individuation are completed.
Focus is on vocational or educational plans.
Ethical and moral values emerge and sexual identity crystallizes.

Challenges to Parents
Prepare for change!
Prepare to be tested.
Prepare for a period of rejection.
Be flexible, but set limits, staying firm and consistent.
Don’t take everything seriously: try to keep your sense of humor.
Take time to listen….really listen!
Don’t let your own adolescence influence you too much.
Acquaint yourself with your teenager’s environment, his/her friends, forms of entertainment, teachers, etc.
Talk and inform, but do not preach, use television, music, and magazine articles as gateways to meaningful discussions of difficult topics.
Teach by example. Your teen is watching you and how you handle stress, anger, disappointment…
Monitor internet usage.
Be the grown-up. Avoid sarcasm and shouting.

Nutrition
Do your best to offer healthy foods in your home. Minimize or eliminate foods such as sodas, chips, fried foods, candy, etc.
Calcium requirements: 1200mg per day.
This requires 4-6 servings of dairy products per day (one serving = 8oz. yogurt or 1oz. cheese).
Other calcium sources: orange juice fortified with calcium, tofu, sardines, greens.
Iron requirements: 18mg per day
Sources: liver, spinach, green vegetables, fortified cereals, beans, beef, raisins.
Calories: general guidelines (much individual variation)
Females ages 11-14: 2400 | ages 15-18: 2800
Males ages 11-14 2800 | ages 15-18 3000
Ask your doctor about 1) vitamin supplements, 2) vegetarian diets, 3) concerns you may have about your child’s dieting or a possible eating disorder.

Safety
Always insist on seatbelt use for yourself, your children, and their friends.
Discuss drinking and driving with your child.
Unload and lock up, or better yet, remove all guns from the house.
Know your child’s sports coaches, and insist on proper protective equipment in sports and recreation, including bicycle helmets.
If your adolescent spends time alone in the house, make sure he/she know about the fire extinguisher, neighbor’s phone numbers to call for help, etc.
Educate yourself regarding the internet and the dangers that can result. If you need help with understanding the safety issues www.safekids.com may be helpful.