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How much physical activity does my teen need?
Physical activity is very important for a growing body. The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends children and teens get at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day. This can be a difficult task for some due to school work, studying for tests, hanging out with friends, and also spending quality time with family. Many teens are happy to know that these 60 minutes can be split up into two, three, or even four segments. A brisk 30 minute walk to school in the morning and a quick 30 minute run in the evening will satisfy these physical activity recommendations.
Why is physical activity important for my teen?
Physical activity is important for overall good health. It helps maintain a healthy weight, keeps bones and muscle strong, improves flexibility and also lowers the risk of developing diseases such as high blood pressure and diabetes. Exercise benefits not only the body, but also the mind. Being active often makes us feel happier, which can reduce the symptoms of depression and anxiety, and also improves self-confidence.What can parents do to help their teen to become more active?
As a parent, you play a vital part in shaping your teen’s attitudes and behaviors towards physical activity. When parents have a positive attitude towards a healthy lifestyle, teens are more likely mirror those positive actions. Here are some ways parents can help teens stay or become more active: Get involved. Be physically active alongside your teen. If you are encouraging your child to exercise more, you also have to make an effort to become more active. Set a positive example by leading a healthy active lifestyle. Be positive. Be careful not to pass on your negative sports memories from your childhood. If you twisted your ankle playing soccer or did not get picked to play middle school baseball, don’t discourage your teen from trying out or participating in that particular sport. Show encouragement. Encourage teens to become interested in new activities by exposing them to unfamiliar sports or activities. Select gifts that encourage physical activity (basketballs, skateboards, running shoes, baseball gloves, and jump ropes) instead of promoting sedentary activities (video games and DVD’s) Get the whole family involved by enjoying a family walk after dinner or taking a family trip to locations where teens can let out all their energy (neighborhood pools, basketball courts, baseball field, or outdoor events) Make physical activity fun. Family hula hoop contests, game of Twister, dance competitions, or hop scotch is always a blast. As long as everyone is laughing, it will be a success. Start an exercise club. Instead of teens staying home and watching television, encourage them to start a neighborhood walking, soccer or running club. These clubs can include the whole family or just the teens. Plan weekend events that involve some sort of physical activity (hiking, water sports, visiting the zoo, city walking tours etc.)How do I help my teen overcome physical activity barriers?
Most teenagers have a difficult time meeting the recommendations for physical activity due to multiple reasons. These reasons can range from disliking exercise to the hot and rainy weather outside. Overcoming barriers can be challenging but also very rewarding once succeeded. When able, sit down with your teen and discuss their physical activity barriers. Try to determine at least one or two solutions to help them overcome them. -
How to childproof your bathroom
Previously, we shared some ideas about . Today, we’ll continue by talking about another one of the most troublesome areas in your home: the bathroom. It’s no secret that toddlers love the bathroom, and that one tiny room holds the potential for a whole lot of disaster.
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How to childproof your living areas and outside your home
In the past few blog posts, we’ve shared some insight about how you can effectively protect your children from the hazards in your and . Once you’ve gotten those rooms under control (well, as much you can get things under control with a toddler in the house!), it’s time to look at other important areas: your living area and the outside of your home.
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How to help a child through the transition of divorce
Divorce is an event that can cause a great deal of trauma and stress to a child’s life. Children may often question if the divorce is their fault or if there is more they could have done to keep their family together. While adults can understand the context and reasoning behind a divorce, children often do not, and likely may come up with their own versions of what they feel went wrong. Many times, the main thing a child sees is that the two most important people in his or her life will no longer live under the same roof, and this can cause them much confusion and distress.
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How to prevent your little one from choking
You can tell I’m the mother of a toddler. I walk into a room and I may not make eye contact with you because I am too busy scanning every nook and cranny for things that my kid is likely to put in his mouth. It’s the time in my son’s life where what looks to you like a penny or a button looks to me like a death trap.
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How to help a child who may be experiencing abuse or neglect
As a social worker, I have become the “go to” person for many friends and family members. They will often present scenarios to me, ranging from how to help a loved one who may be a victim of domestic violence to what to do about the homeless family you see sleeping in their car to how to help a child who may be a victim of abuse or neglect. Some of these scenarios require a deeper analysis into the many factors at play, and there may not always be a straightforward answer to the problem. However, any time there is concern that a child may be experiencing abuse or neglect, there are specific steps that anyone can take to help provide for the wellbeing of that child.
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Pacifiers: Should you or shouldn’t you?
I’ve found that one of the things mothers often have strong opinions about is their baby’s use of a pacifier.
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How to talk to your kids about death
Written by Jaya Jagmohan, DO
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Should you be thinking about contraception for your teen?
Why is contraception important?
The simple answer- to prevent pregnancy. That is exactly why we need to have this discussion with teenagers. The statistics are astonishing about how many teens have been sexually active before they finish high school. Half of high school students report ever having had sexual intercourse and every year about 750,000 adolescents become pregnant. The majority of these pregnancies, a whopping 80%, are unplanned, which tells me that we need to do a better job giving our teenage population contraception.What are the recommended contraception options?
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) both recommend Long-Acting Reversible Contraception "LARCs" for adolescents. The LARC options include the implant and intrauterine devices (IUD). Both of these options are safe and superior to the old-school daily pill. With either the implant or the IUD, our teens don't have to remember to take it every day, making it nearly foolproof. The implant is placed in the upper arm and feels like a two-inch long piece of spaghetti under the skin. The IUDs are inserted into the cervix and can be checked by feeling for the string inside the vagina. Both options last for years without needing to be replaced, which is another reason it is perfect for teens.What about "the pill”?
There are other options, including the pill and the shot. The pill must be taken every day so when thinking of our teenage population and how hard it is for them to remember even to brush their teeth on a daily basis, this option is clearly not the best choice. The shot, Depo-Provera, is a good alternative but not many people are keen on getting a shot every three months. -
If your child has had a concussion or brain injury, you may not see the full effects for years to come
As an occupational therapist, one of the things that I do in my job is assist children who are recovering from a traumatic brain injury. I help them work through the new challenges they face because of their injury in hopes that they can fulfill their full potential. As a medical community, we are still working to fully understand how a brain injury affects a child’s long-term growth and development, but what recent research has shown us is that it may be long after the initial recovery period from a traumatic brain injury (even years later) before we see the full effects the injury will have on their growth and development.
What parents need to know
When we talk about brain injuries, it’s important to understand that we aren’t only talking about major injuries; we are also talking about relatively minor brain injuries, such as a concussion. Whether they have had a severe injury or a relatively minor one, children may experience long-lasting effects that can affect their development. A child may sustain a brain injury and experience a significant decrease in social, emotional, behavioral or cognitive abilities at the time of injury. (Cognitive abilities refers to a child’s capacity for learning and understanding, acquiring knowledge). Years later, they may then experience a “stall” where they fail to develop their cognitive, social, emotional or behavioral skills.
