From cheering them on at athletic events to dealing with sudden mood swings, parenting a teen can have its ups and downs. The transition period between childhood and adulthood can be stressful—and we're here to help you and your child manage these major changes.
Please keep in mind that while this page provides information for children 12-18 years of age, it should not replace the information or delay treatment provided by your healthcare provider. If you have any questions or concerns at any time, be sure to consult with your child's pediatrician.
Caring for Your Teenager
Nutrition and Wellness
In a world where we're bombarded by busy schedules and tempted by fast food, making sure your growing teen gets the nutrition he or she needs can be tough. These tips might help keep them on track:
Hendricks Regional Health provides Pediatric Weight Management Programs for teens and families to learn about nutrition and physical activity, while providing lots of interaction and positive reinforcement.
Physical Growth and Development
Puberty might be the biggest change your child is going through right now. Here are some helpful reads to better understand these physical and hormonal changes:
Vaccinations, Illness, and Disease
From vaccinations to athlete's foot, make sure you're aware of common vaccinations, infections, and diseases for adolescent children:
Speech and Learning
In middle school and high school, you may witness changes to your child's learning behaviors. More on speech and developmental concerns below:
Visit our Speech Therapy Services for Children page for more information on how our team can help.
Behavior and Activities
Teens face a lot of daily pressures—from themselves, from school, from sports, from peers, and from their parents. Here's how to help them deal with some of these pressures in a healthy, productive way:
Is your teen involved in school or recreational sports and activities? Our sports medicine services can help keep your athlete healthy on and off the field.
For even more good reads on raising healthy kids at every stage and age,
visit our extensive child's health resource library.