The average US teenager spends three hours and 20 minutes watching television every day, according to a 2009 Nielson report on teen media use. Thirty-seven percent of teenagers access the Internet with their cellphones, and the...
Growth spurts happen to all kids, but they can wreak havoc on your athletic life. Your body will go through periods of rapid vertical growth punctuated by periods of "filling out" as your muscles catch up to your bone...
Creatine is a supplement used by bodybuilders to put on muscle mass quickly. Like other supplements, creatine is not under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Teenage boys and their parents likely have ma...
Teenagers are notoriously difficult to wake up in the mornings, and the fault doesn't lie entirely with a lack of willpower. According to the Mayo Clinic, teens naturally shift to a pattern of not becoming tired until 11 PM or ...
The pectoralis major and minor run across the front of the chest in the shape of a fan. Transforming these muscles from flat to round and defined can help boost your self-confidence levels as a teen. Being that the pecs are lar...
Exercise is an important part of a healthy lifestyle, no matter what age you are. Physical activity greatly impact our physical, mental and emotional development and health. However, getting the teenage boy in your household to...
The teenage years, though awkward and confusing, is the time when parents can help shape and mold their children to become unique and competent adults. Some teens may pass through these years with ease while others may struggle...
teenage girls are already going through dramatic physical changes, so adequate nutrition during teenage pregnancy is particularly important. Because adolescent growth is not complete for about four years after the first menstru...
If you're a teen, you might prefer pizza, burgers, sweets and cola to healthy foods because they're readily available and they taste good. However, you might be missing out on the excellent benefits of eating healthy foods, suc...
teenagers lead hectic lives. Between school, work, after-school activities, socializing and preparing for college, being a teenager can leave you feeling stressed out and on edge. Meditation can help relieve some of that stress...
The teen years can be notoriously difficult for teenagers, especially if other kids gossip about and criticize your child. Adolescent bullying can leave lasting scars, making it essential that parents, teachers and other adults...
Childhood and adolescent obesity and excessive weight are on the rise, and one reason is sedentary activities, such as watching television and playing video games, are more tempting to many teenagers than working out, according...
If your teen has a high fever, you might be concerned. Oftentimes, a fever is caused by a viral infection; however, sometimes, your teen’s fever might occur due to a bacterial infection or inflammatory condition. Knowing ...
With school, after-school activities and family obligations, a teenager’s life may be hectic, and choosing the right nutritional foods is not always easy. For many, breakfast is skipped and fast food or vending machines m...
Catching your teen in a lie doesn’t necessarily mean that he has a serious problem. Lying can be a normal part of development when your teen is testing boundaries and seeing how much he can get away with. However, both sm...
Parenting teenagers is never easy, but it shouldn’t feel like you’re weathering the “terrible twos” all over again. Yelling and lecturing won’t work with unruly, childish adolescents. If you deal w...
As parents focus on getting school lunches packed and dinner on the table, they may not notice serious teenage nutritional issues. Hectic schedules, popular convenience foods and body-image concerns all play roles in adolescent...
Dehydration in teenagers most often occurs during the summer months and is more common in teens who participate in endurance or team sports, such as running or soccer. Without prompt treatment, dehydration can lead to heatstrok...
The teen years are known for major developments physically, mentally and socially. Beginning as early as age 10, you may notice an increase in your teenager's appetite. Girls begin to increase their percentage of body fat and ...
teenagers seem to be on the go all the time, with school, extracurricular activities, part-time jobs and busy social lives. Many teens also suffer from allergies, which can strike at just about any time of year. If your teenage...
It's not uncommon for a teenager to want to increase muscle mass. Reasons may include improved strength, sports performance or the desire to impress a special someone. Whatever the reason, a teen must wait until he reaches pube...
Changing neighborhoods and school environments can be very traumatic for teenagers -- more so if the move is due to an already stressful situation. You might notice that the move affects your teenager in several ways. Understan...
...8 study published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revealed that 18.1 percent of Americans age 12 to 19 are obese. Lack of physical activity is a major factor in overweight and obese teenagers, as their free...
While the research on the effects of pop culture on teenagers is not yet conclusive, the predominance of pop culture in today's society definitely has some effect. In particular, it affects the way teenagers think of themselves...
With computers, televisions and video games to occupy their limited free time, teenagers might forget to exercise. Physical activity is important for people of all ages, including teens. The National Institutes of Health's Medl...
Killer outfit. Knock-em-dead shoes. Clean, shiny hair. Bad breath. Your body's digestive process contributes to bad breath, or halitosis, so knowing what happens after you eat a burger or salad can help you take the right steps...
If you're a teenager -- or if you are raising one -- you're probably used to what seems like a ravenous appetite. Teens eat a lot of food, which they need to fuel their growth; teenage girls need about 2,200 calories per day, w...
Punishing your teen does not require yelling and screaming, as creating immediate consequences for your teen's actions forces immediate introspection. Work together with your teen to create a more productive home environment; h...
You have many options when disciplining your teen, including working together with your teen to create solutions. As your teen moves into adulthood, she learns to function in adult society and no longer needs you to tell her wh...
Family arguments over teenagers' music-listening choices are as old as disagreements over who washes the dishes or takes out the trash. Parents' musical tastes are often very different from those of their teenage children; howe...
If your teenager is showing frequent signs of moodiness, it is important to decipher between normal and abnormal behavior. Several things could be affecting her moods, including hormone fluctuations, stress and underlying medic...
...watch in amazement as your friends go to battle with their teen daughters, thinking to yourself, "This will never happen with my little girls." Your friend may warn, "Wait until your daughters become teenagers." In the blink...
Heartburn is a kind of chest pain that is caused by the irritative effects of gastric juice going backward into the esophagus. The most common cause of this condition is gastroesophageal reflux. Though painful, heartburn is rar...
As a parent of a teenager, it may seem like your child tends to shut down emotionally during certain periods of their lives. However, teenagers will always have conflicting emotions going on that may not be present on the surf...
Children begin to develop muscles as they go through adolescence and begin to mature. Muscle development depends on a variety of factors, such as sex, heredity, age and exercise. Participating in resistance exercise before the ...
...rwear and socks, attempt to leap impossibly stuffed backpacks and sporting equipment and sweat over whether homework assignments will be turned in on time and cram sessions will garner decent grades. Teenagers are notorious ...
...en, so the idea of seeking mental and even legal help is dismissed in the interest of protecting the abuser. This is done all while attempting to preserve the parent-child relationship. But when your teenage daughter becomes...
...lammation and infection of the gallbladder or bile duct. This can cause severe abdominal pain and can in some cases be life threatening. While gallstones are more common in older adults, children and teenagers can also devel...
Teenagers suffer through many changes as hormone levels fluctuate. Emotional changes are one of the main concerns for many parents during this time. Extreme sadness, anger and hostility can leave you reeling and fighting off fe...
Biosocial developmental theory explores how genetic, chemical and nervous system functions are influenced by the social environment and how social pressures affect the expression of biological processes. Physical, cognitive, pe...
Teens are not young children in a nearly grown body. Their cognitive and emotional development is on a higher level than that of a younger child, and the consequences and disciplinary actions you place on them need to be creati...
The body goes through a number of physical changes, including weight gain, during adolescence. Weight gain can be traumatic for teenagers because they are particularly vulnerable to developing a low self-esteem because of their...
Due to increasing amounts of sex hormones during and after puberty, boys and girls grow considerably during their teenage years. While girls tend to begin these growth spurts earlier, boys tend to grow taller and over a longer ...
Teenagers growing up in a high-tech society are at risk for developing sedentary lifestyles that lead to poor health. Jogging provides an inexpensive and accessible exercise for participants of all ages, shapes and sizes. It ch...
A teenager is at a crucial stage of development, and the volatile nature of the child's emotions may cause the parents to worry. However, teenagers go through many emotions, some of which are stronger than others. Helping them ...
Empathy is a much cherished social value and is considered a crucial component of social intelligence. It is not unusual for parents to want their children to be aware of the feelings of others around them. It is also important...
Teens do not get enough magnesium in their diets, according to David Milne at the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service, because instead of drinking milk they're choosing soda. Magnesium is an important...
teenagers are growing up and exploring all the possibilities the world has to offer them. teenagers may lack expression and can be difficult to talk with. A desire for independence can leave teenagers feeling like parents are t...
As siblings grow into teenagers, ongoing sibling rivalry is likely to continue, and in some cases, get worse. Conflict among siblings usually does not create a need for alarm. Sibling rivalry teaches teenagers how to get along...
Raising an adolescent can be a confusing time for the parent, but it can also be a confusing time for the teenager. The adolescent years can lay the foundation for a successful adulthood. One trait, however, that can limit the ...
Disciplining your child is a normal part of being a parent that starts in the toddler years and progresses all the way into the pre-teens and teenage years. However, the teenage years can present a unique challenge, as teenager...
Teenagers often don't get enough sleep thanks to busy schedules, late-night Web surfing and TV watching, caffeinated drinks and other distractions. Teens' circadian rhythms change as they get older so that they don't start feel...
teenagers wouldn't be teenagers if they didn't morph into individuals you no longer recognize as the children you raised. According to Dr. Barton Schmitt with Bayside Medical Group in the Bay area, your teen's rebellion is gene...
Teens grow at alarming rates. You no sooner buy them a pair of shoes and a month later they require a larger size. These growth spurts are accompanied by nutritional needs that are not met by the burgers served at their favorit...
A bodybuilder who begins training in his teens, lays the groundwork for success as an adult. Your teenage years are an excellent time to start building muscle and to develop good habits that will follow you for life. There are,...
... exercise incorporates movements that strengthen and tone the muscles. Young adults can build larger muscles through weightlifting routines and other types of resistance exercise, although very young teenagers should wait un...
Teenagers who regularly get exercise are more likely to maintain a healthy weight, less likely to develop certain diseases and more likely to feel good in mind and body, according to TeensHealth from Nemours. You probably alrea...
American kids, including teenagers, are in worse physical shape than their peers were in the 1980s, according to Family Education. Giving your teenager a variety of ideas for exercise is one way to help improve their physical h...
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggest teenagers exercise at least 60 minutes each day of the week. The CDC also recommends teenagers perform three types of exercise: aerobic, muscle strengthening and bone stren...
... be more suspectible to the effects of stress, hunger, injury and sleep-deprivation, as their bodies are still growing and developing. Heat exhaustion, poor diet and problems sleeping can all leave a teenager feeling fatigue...
In a perfect world, teenagers and nonteenagers alike would derive their vitamins entirely from a healthy, balanced diet including lean proteins, whole grains, fresh vegetables, fruits and low-fat dairy products. Dr. Lawrence Ro...
It is possible for children and teenagers to experience hot flushes or hot flashes similar to those of menopausal women. However, while hot flashes are normal and expected in older women, they are not common or normal for teena...
teenagers have a lot on their plates, from school work, social stresses, personal growth and perhaps first jobs. With all of the changes taking place, it's no wonder that teenagers are often exhausted. The Children's Hospital B...
Hair loss affects men of all ages, yet it can be especially devastating for those who begin losing their hair during their teenage years. Propecia, the brand name for the drug finasteride, received FDA approval as a treatment f...
Height depends on both genetics and a variety of factors, such as good health and nutrition. Adolescents need to eat a variety of balanced meals and healthy snacks to ensure that their bodies will grow optimally. Parents can h...
Being a teenage guy is never easy and the 21st century provides a number of challenges specific to your generation. However, a number of basics remain the same. Staying healthy and alive is the most important part of being a te...
Adolescence is a time of many changes, both physical and emotional. As girls begin to change physically, the need to know that they are "normal" is important. Many teens have questions about breast development, but they need to...
Mother Nature has a wicked sense of humor. Libido -- or sex drive -- reaches a peak in males during their adolescence and 20s. Women reach their sexual peak during the mid-30s, just as the men are beginning to wane in their sex...
Alopecia is a term that refers to hair loss, including age-related hair loss such as balding. In teens, hair loss is often the result of a condition called alopecia areata, an autoimmune disorder, according to the American Acad...
Sources at Mental Health America note that bullying in schools can include behaviors like spreading rumors, targeting another individual with teasing or social exclusion. While gossip and exclusion are more subtle forms of bull...
Boys and girls have dramatically different height growth as teenagers. Whereas boys grow more than 5 inches between the ages of 13 and 15 years, girls grow only 1.6 inches during their teenage years after growing more rapidly t...
Communicating with a teenage daughter can sometimes feel like you're talking to a brick wall. No matter what parents do, they often feel like they can't get through to their child. Helping your teenage daughter requires setting...
Raising teenagers can be challenging. If you are experiencing any type of problem with your teenage daughter, you want to make the right decisions for both of you. Some issues that arise will work themselves out over time. Howe...
Spondylosis--or cervical spondylosis--is a condition in which disks and joints in the vertebrae degenerate, causing spinal compression. It typically starts in the neck, but can also begin to affect the spinal cord as the condit...
...motions to themselves---particularly those that are difficult to deal with. Although this behavior can be normal, it may necessitate a bit of detective work on the part of a parent who wonders if her teenage son is beginning...
Going through puberty is traumatic on almost any teenager. But for transgendered teenagers, it can be a nightmare. When a person is transgendered, their brain gender and their biological gender are at odds. For a girl who was b...
The average person, including teenagers, loses about 100 hairs each day, states the National Institute of Health's Medline Plus. However, for some teenagers there may be extensive hair-loss resulting in thinning areas or comple...
Teens enter relationships with one another while they are still learning who they are and what they believe. When you pair up with a girl, you might think that she's "the one" for you and that your relationship will last foreve...
Headaches are a universal health problem affecting all ages, including teenagers. Depending on their severity, headaches can contribute to problems with concentration and schoolwork and can even leave your child bedridden for d...
Although seeing blood pouring out of your nose can be a frightening experience, you probably have nothing to worry about. Nosebleeds are relatively common in kids and most kids outgrow them at some point in their teen years, ac...
Finding a summer job allows you to earn money and gain work experience. Summer jobs are available for enterprising teenagers. Create a list of your interests, strengths and dislikes to narrow your job search, according to Kids ...
Although your spine holds your body in an upright posture, it isn't as straight as an arrow. It actually needs some amount of curving down the back to allow you to maintain balance and move properly, according to KidsHealth, pa...
The body's biological clock, also known as its circadian rhythm, is a system regulated by the brain structures of the suprachiasmatic nucleus, also known as the SCN, which is in the brain's hypothalamus. The SCN is a center of ...
Some parents of teenagers have to deal with the out-of-control behaviors in which teens engage. A teenage daughter may stop listening to her parents' directions; she may leave and not inform her parents of her whereabouts; she ...
Your teenage daughter might appear to be lazy for many reasons. She may sleep a lot, get up late, refuse to do chores, spend hours on the phone or Internet, refuse to leave her room and decline invitations to participate in fam...
...ventual production of life-sustaining breast milk. Typically, development begins early in life, with outward signs of change occurring during puberty. In some cases, these changes manifest during the teenage years, while in ...
...ood circulation is characterized by symptoms in the extremities, or hand, arms, feet and legs, including numbness, tingling or cold temperature. Various diseases can lead to poor blood circulation in teenagers.
Breasts--your mom has them, your grandma has them and everywhere you look, you see grown women with them. You may have noticed that breasts get a lot of attention in advertisements, but they serve a much more important function...
Most teenagers have little or no work experience and haven't had much of an opportunity to practice interviewing techniques. Still, the world is full of millions of people who successfully got their first jobs. By following som...
Most people get dull headaches from time to time, but only a few consistently suffer from migraines. Migraines affect about 20 percent of teenagers, and they are more common in girls than in boys, according to the American Acad...
...urface contaminated with the bacterial, viral, fungal or protozoan agent responsible for the disease. Communicable diseases such as meningitis, strep throat and mononucleosis are extremely common in teenagers.
When planning a carnival, don't forget to include games for teenagers who are too old for some of the children's games. Include games with themes around pop culture to attract teens to the booths. Add challenges to hold the int...
Teenagers, by their very nature, are going to test parental boundaries. Some of these tests expose them to risky, if not illegal, behaviors. Under the best of circumstances, raising a teen is not easy--they are moody, undergoin...
Braces have come a long way since the days when big metal bands were connected to a wire in your mouth. Today, the wire is still there, but small metal or ceramic brackets have replaced the clunky bands. Another change is that ...
Stuck between the innocence of childhood and the responsibilities and temptations of adulthood, teenagers are incredibly vulnerable to trouble. Relationships, school, drugs and alcohol, friends, divorce and myriad other issues ...
Washing your face can be a pain if you’re a teenager. Maybe you think it takes too much time. Maybe you don’t want to deal with acne. But incorporating it into your morning and evening routine can make it painless. ...
Becoming pregnant and having a child is a huge responsibility at any age, but discovering you're pregnant when you're still a teenager can feel earth shattering. Before you became pregnant, your main concerns centered on studyi...
Teenage balding is less common than in adults but can be caused by many of the same factors as adult hair loss. Many of the same reasons for adult hair loss are reasons adolescents lose their hair: illness, genetic predispositi...
Guided imagery exercises are a form of relaxation techniques that can help you increase your own awareness, help you refocus and feel calm, according to the Mayo Clinic. Guided Imagery can be performed with the help of a mental...
Causes of teenage suicide can be difficult to pinpoint and may involve several factors. Teens go through a vulnerable period at this stage in their lives. No matter how small or big their problems, their troubles may feel unbea...
It has been said time and time again that teenagers are, by nature, defiant in their behavior. New parents think nervously about the day their little ones will reach the teenage stage. Often, however, defiant behavior in teenag...
...g these reasons are kept by many agencies, including the Centers for Disease Control and the Guttmacher Institute, which track data on many areas of reproductive health. Each year, 1 million American teenagers become pregnan...
Few parents escape the wrath of their child blossoming into a teen. Even the sweetest of elementary-aged children often acquire a new attitude, wardrobe and colorful vocabulary as they age. Fear not, parents. No matter how o...
Your son has never been on a sports team. He doesn't belong to a club at school and he doesn't ask for you to drive him and his friends to the movies, either. As glad as you are that he hasn't joined a "bad" crowd, you'd be hap...
Teenagers are notoriously hard to deal with, especially when it comes to responsibility and discipline. Walking the fine line between childhood and adulthood, most teens struggle to assert their own free will, resulting in rebe...
It can be hard to get teenagers to listen to anything you say, let alone get them to practice good manners. But it is essential for teenagers to learn basic etiquette to prepare for the real world. Good manners make teenagers s...
An unexpected pregnancy can be scary and overwhelming at any age, but especially when you are a teenager. Instead of worrying about what to wear to the next school dance, pregnant teenagers find themselves having to make a very...
Being a teenager can be challenging. As a teen, you likely face many different issues, such as dealing with your parents, friends, love, dating, sex, grades, sports, working, driving and siblings. Decisions that you make while ...
Not all teenagers love reading. In fact, many teenagers abhor reading, especially when it involves books they are forced to read for class. Plenty of engaging books are available that can inspire teenagers and encourage them to...
...t a surprise. A teen might lie for a number of reasons, report doctors at MassGeneral Hospital for Children. Teens lie to avoid causing parental disfavor, about sex or how they spend their time. When teenagers engage in beha...
When your child's grades are slipping at school, asking him about the change can seem like an attack and cause him to avoid the situation. If you need to open a dialogue and talk to teenagers about school and grades, do so on t...
The Internet and many social networking sites are extremely popular among teenagers. As estimated by Nielsen NetRatings, 429 million people have Internet access across the world. While the Internet contains a plethora of good i...
Disrespect, silence, anger, attitude, bad language and the face of an angel. Perhaps this sounds like your Teenager. Teenage problems are necessary, and families can learn how to navigate through the meaning of these problems ...
Meningitis, often called spinal meningitis, is the inflammation of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord, which, according to Medline Plus, causes changes in the cerebrospinal fluid. Meningitis exists in two forms--b...
A chore list for a teenager is typically different than a chore list for a younger child. However, some chores could be the same. For example, "clean room" may be an item on the chore list with slightly different expectations....
When your teenager has been through a breakup, you may notice that she exhibits certain personality changes, some that you should be concerned about, and some that you needn't be. A breakup can be a traumatic event for a teenag...
The teenage years are a period of rapid growth and increased nutritional needs. Though teenagers are often concerned about their weight, they need to remember that good nutrition is essential for the lengthening and strengtheni...
When your teenager is constantly monopolizing your phone line or causing you to miss calls, changing your policy for the home phone might be necessary for everyone's sanity. Whether you decide to get your teen his own phone or ...
The teen birth rate is steadily increasing, reports "The Washington Post." Out of every 1,000 teen girls, 42.5 percent become pregnant. These statistics are shocking for parents, especially those hoping to teach abstinence to t...
Teenagers are notoriously hard to buy for. They have their own ideas about what constitutes a good gift, which could be vastly different from your ideas. Music is one area in which you can buy gifts that are almost guaranteed t...
"When can I start wearing makeup?" It's a question that most moms dread, but inevitably get if they have a daughter (or more!) in the house. Before throwing your hands up in despair over the fact that she's growing up too qui...
...ticle will attempt to present the facts about teen pregnancy, and it will offer some thoughts on what might be done to alleviate the problem, at least to some degree.
Every year, almost 1 million teenage girls become pre...
Stay away from discussions about food, recipes, weight or fad diets. You don't have to avoid conversations about food entirely, but try not to steer your teenager toward obsessive thinking about it. Notice how your body image ...
Teenagers have so much going on in their lives with school, athletics, part-time jobs and extra-curricular pursuits that parents often forgive them for not participating in household chores. This is a mistake, however, as teen...
Your teen deserves to know how he will be punished for breaking rules. Consequences need to be made clear at the outset. For instance, let him know if he neglects his chores during the week, he will be staying home that weeken...
While certain activities should always be off limits (such as drunk driving or drug use), most situations can be negotiated. Work with your child to set appropriate limits. For instance, if he wants to attend a party where dr...
Stealing is a serious offense. When your child steals, it is important to determine the motivation. Is this a one-time event done on a dare? Has he made a habit of stealing for the "thrill" of it? Why did he steal that particu...
Giving a teen a responsibility she is not mature enough to handle is asking for trouble. Teens of the same age differ widely in maturity levels. While one 15-year old may be mature enough to handle a part-time job, another may...
...dependent lives. Despite this knowledge, most parents are more than a little disconcerted when the time comes for their child to move away from home. This is especially hard when the child is still a teenager. Despite your m...
...f saying things like "Make sure your homework is done before you go out" and "Sort your laundry for the next load" but not much else, then you are probably not communicating well with her. Talking to teenagers involves an ex...
When a teenager or pre-teen hits puberty, the brain releases a hormone called GnRH (gonadotropin-releasing hormone) into the body, which stimulates the hormone production of the pituitary gland. LH (luteinizing hormone) and FS...
Teens need clear and consistent limits to their behavior, so make sure your teens know specifically what behaviors will not be tolerated--and their consequences. Teens can be especially crafty when things are left open-ended. ...
Though it may feel sneaky, parents of especially moody teenagers should keep a journal logging their child's moods. This log can provide crucial information regarding patterns of behavior, and you can use the information you g...
To motivate a teenager to study, you need to provide him with the atmosphere he needs to be successful. Help him set up an environment suited to studying with all the equipment he needs close at hand. Generally, this involves ...
Parents often feel as if their teenager belongs to an entirely different species. Suddenly, your once-easygoing child is prone to fits of sullenness, withdrawal and arguing. Understanding typical teenage behavior, with all it...
Dealing with teenagers in the home means accepting and fostering their changing role in the family. While it's comforting to try to keep things the same, doing so can be stifling to the teen. Trying to repress the changes that...
When your teen demonstrates a negative attitude, don't confront him in the heat of the moment. It will serve you both well to allow for a general "cooling down" period. Give your child time by himself in his own bedroom. Many ...
