Your Teenage Daughter
Diet:
·
Offer
3 regular meals and healthy snacks. Breakfast is very important!
Eating meals as a family facilitates communication. Limit fast
foods, junk foods and sweets. Keep a variety of healthy foods at
home. Allow her to participate in food shopping or preparation.
·
She
should drink 16-24 oz. of skim or low fat milk each day. Other dairy
products, like yogurt and cheese are important for calcium needs. If
milk is not consumed or “only with cereal” -substitute calcium
fortified juice or ask about calcium supplementation. Multivitamins
may be necessary if her diet is consistently inadequate.
·
Express any concerns about her weight or “preoccupation with
weight”/eating/food choices with your provider.
·
Support her evolving self-image by commenting on the positive things
she does rather than focusing on her physical appearance and weight.
Sleep:
·
A
regular bedtime routine is very important. Between 15-18 years of
age, the average teen should sleep 8-10 hours each night,
“Catching up” on sleep on the weekends is not recommended.
Development:
·
 Peer
relationships and acceptance are very important. She is handling a
great deal of peer pressure. Suggest and maybe practice some ways of
recognizing and resisting peer pressure
·
Peer
pressure can work in a positive and negative direction. Teens tend
to have a small group of friends who share similar activities and
interests, including dress, hairstyle, music, and behaviors.
·
Teens
may take pride in their own “uniqueness” – this helps them to
establish their own sense of identity.
·
As
her physical body continues to change, expect intellectual and
emotional changes to occur as well. Provide an open forum for
discussions about emerging sexual/physical/emotional feelings for
others. Encourage abstinence and ask lots of direct questions.
·
Teens
are “egocentric overthinkers” self centered but not necessarily
selfish- try to place yourself in her shoes- talk to your teen about
problems she may be experiencing, and her tendency to “overanalyze”.
She may think she is invincible and that things could “never happen
to her”.
·
Your
teen is having emerging feelings of independence from the family
possibly from increasing peer identification. She may and be
thinking about goals for the future! In your discussions, ask simple
direct questions.
·
 Talk to your daughter about her menstrual cycle-
encourage her to plot its regular (or irregular occurrence) on a
monthly calendar. A responsible teen may wear tampons during the
day- they must be changed at least every 4 hours.
Safety:
·
Wear
a seatbelt at all times, as a driver or a passenger. Parents should
be a good role model and buckle up as well.
·
Driving teens should be given ample time and opportunity for parent
supervised driving before going solo.
·
If
your teen has a permit, limit driving to daylight hours until more
experienced.
·
Absolutely no drinking and driving or riding with a drinking driver-
discuss a plan and develop a contract to get home safely.
·
Wear
appropriate protective equipment (helmet, mouth guard, pads,
shatterproof eyewear) while engaging in risky sports.
·
Wear
a life jacket on a boat, nonswimmers should wear a life jacket at
all times. Never dive into unfamiliar water.
·
Use
PABA-free sunscreen with SPF >15. Avoid tanning salons.
·
Discuss privacy and boundaries at home and away from home.
·
 Discuss
avoidance of tobacco, alcohol, drugs (including inhalants), and
guns. Keep an open line of communication about their hazardous
potential. Be a good role model!
General Parental
Guidance:
·
Schedule dental visits every 6 months, floss every day and brush at
least twice a day.
·
Emphasize the importance of school and praise positive efforts.
·
Encourage reading for pleasure and relaxation. Encourage looking in
the newspaper.
·
The
computer should be in a prominent location in the house to monitor
her internet activity. Teach her to never give out identifying
information-home address, school name, or telephone numbers while
chatting. Get to know the services and websites that she uses. Get
to know her “online friends” just as you would all of her other
friends. Find out what types of information the site offers and
whether there are ways to block objectionable material. Encourage
her to tell you if she encounters messages that are suggestive,
obscene, threatening or make her feel uncomfortable. Establish
rules, limits, and curfews.
·
Know
her friends and their parents. Monitor and be aware.
·
Rules
and expectations should be discussed, clarified, and enforced. A
“safe ride home” contract should be signed- an agreement that she
can call at any time for a safe ride home regardless of the time and
place no questions asked.
·
A
first gynecology visit should be scheduled for 18 years or we may
refer if a consult is needed sooner.
·
Acne
is a common issue –give us a call.
·
Exercise is very important- it can be a family effort- get involved
and bond with your teen as you exercise together. 60 minutes a day
is the recommendation.
·
She
feels invincible, so encourage your teen’s independence but also
foster a sense of self-responsibility. Assign mutually agreed upon
household chores. Give a small allowance so she can learn to manage
money.
·
Because this is a time of high stress, monitor your teen for signs
of high anxiety or depression. Pervasive boredom or irritability may
be symptoms of depression. Worsening academic achievement may be a
sign of depression or anxiety as well. You will receive a handout at
today’s visit called the Pediatric Symptom Checklist. We are just as
interested in your daughter’s emotional well being and mental health
as we are her physical health. This questionnaire may identify teens
at risk for high anxiety and depression. You may consult with our on
staff mental health specialist Beth Shapiro at 773-478-1067,
·
Think
about a prepaid calling card and/or a cell phone for emergency use.
At Today’s and Each
Yearly Checkup:
·
She
will have a physical examination and have a chance to ask
confidential questions. A routine urinalysis will be done and
cholesterol levels may be obtained.
·
Your
teen will be given instructions on how to perform a breast self
examination.
·
Please discuss any changes that have taken place in your household
recently with your provider.
·
She may need a Meningitis vaccine, Tetanus with pertussis
vaccine, Human papilloma virus vaccine, and/or a tuberculosis (TB)
skin test.
Teen’s
Acetaminophen Dose:
Every 4-6 hours and no more than 4 doses/day
72-95 lb=3 tsp; 6 chewtabs; 1 325 mg tab
96-150 lb=2 325 mg tabs or 1 500 mg tab
Teen’s Ibuprofen
Dose:
Every 6-8 hours
72-95 lb.= 3 tsp; 6 chewtabs; 1 200 mg caps
96-119 lb= 4 tsp; 8 chewtabs; 2 200 mg caps
121-50 lb=6 tsp; 12 chewtabs; 3 200 mg caps
Suggested Reading:
Positive Discipline for Teenagers: Empowering Your Teens and
Yourself Through Kind and Firm Parenting
Healthy Teens, Body and Soul
Caring for Your Teenager- The AAP’s guide
The Teen Health Book
Additional
Instructions:
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