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News, Advice, and Tips for Parenting Teenagers

The By Parents For Parents Blog is regularly updated with the latest news and information on topics that relate to parenting teenagers. We'll post parenting advice and tips from trusted online news sources and expert parenting columns.

We invite you to add your comments. Please let us know if you would like some specific topics covered, want to share your experience as a parent dealing with teens, or just have general feedback on the By Parents For Parents Blog.

Saturday, July 05, 2008

Oral Piercings Lead to Gum Disease and Tooth Loss

Piercings of the in and around the mouth can lead to tooth loss, broken teeth, and gum disease, according to a study published in the American Dental Journal.

Dr. Yehuda Zadik, who co-authored the study with Dr. Tal Becker, warned that a piercing causes "repeated trauma to the gum area and is in many cases a precursor to tooth loss," most often the front teeth. Piercings can also cause periodontal disease.

Zadik and Becker studied teenagers from around the world, and discovered that the percentages of teens with such piercings varied from 20 percent in Israel to 3.4 percent in Finland.

Both dentists advise parents to dissuade teens from getting piercings. However, if the teen is insistent, tell him to have the piercing performed by a person who uses disposable tools. The teen should rinse regularly with a chloroxidine mouthwash for two weeks after the procedure, and should have the piercing professionally cleaned twice a year to remove tartar buildup and calculus formation.

Labels: health, piercings

posted by ByParents-forParents at 5:03 PM 0 comments

Friday, June 06, 2008

Confidentiality Is Essential to Teen Health Care

Teenagers don't tell their parents everything. No matter how open your relationship is with your child, there will always be topics that are too awkward for them to discuss with you. That's where teenagers can benefit from confidential conversations with a doctor or clinician.

"Giving a professional clinician private time with your child provides your teen a moment to freely express concerns. Maybe your teen will feel more comfortable broaching topics like drugs and alcohol, sexually transmitted diseases, and birth control with a clinician."

Some parents are hesitant to let their kids have confidential time with a doctor or nurse, thinking it will force their kids to talk to them instead. Unfortunately, all that typically does is force a young person to try and figure things out for themselves. Source: The Daily News

A good resource for teens interested in diet and nutrition is WeightLossCentral.org.

Labels: confidentiality, health, relationships

posted by ByParents-forParents at 9:53 AM 0 comments

Saturday, February 02, 2008

Tanning Salons Linked to Skin Cancer

Young people should not to use tanning salons, a new study from New Zealand warns.

People under 35 years old who frequently use sun beds double their risk for dangerous skin cancers. Among those who only tried synthetic tanning just one time, skin cancer risks were 22% higher than average.

Scientists at the Queensland Institute of Medical Research came to those conclusions after analyzing the results of 21 previous studies.

Teens engaging in tanning and other risky behaviors can benefit from a therapeutic boarding school. Learn more about therapeutic boarding schools at TherapeuticBoardingSchool.com.

Labels: cancer, health, risky_behavior

posted by ByParents-forParents at 8:56 PM 0 comments

Thursday, January 24, 2008

Parents See Their Obese Children as Normal or Merely Chubby

Parents often view their obese children as only slightly overweight or even normal, according to a new study by the Knowledge Network Research firm. This is particularly true for parents with children under 11 years.

Researchers surveyed 2,060 parents whose children are clinically obese. Among parents with children ages 6 to 11 years, 43% told the researchers that their children were "just about at the right weight," 37% said they were "slightly overweight," and only 13% said "very overweight." Parents of teens (ages 12 to 17 years) were somewhat more realistic. Over 55% said their children were "slightly overweight," 31% said "very overweight," and 11% said they were at the "right weight."

Since childhood obesity is linked to serious diseases such as heart failure and diabetes, the results of this study indicate that parents of obese children need to better understand that their children have a serious health problem.

Want to learn more about childhood obesity and how to help overweight kids? Visit MyOverweightChild.com.

Labels: denial, health, obesity

posted by ByParents-forParents at 8:30 PM 0 comments

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

STDs Transmission Highest Among Teens

A new federal study reports that teenagers 15 to 19 years old have the highest rate of sexually transmitted diseases than other age groups.

The Public Health Institute Center for Research on Adolescent Health and Development reported this month that half of all new HIV cases are among African-American girls ages 15 years and older.

New Leaf Academy junior boarding schools help middle school aged girls who are struggling emotionally and academically. Visit newleafacademy.com for more information.

Labels: health, sex, sexually_transmitted_diseases

posted by ByParents-forParents at 3:15 PM 0 comments

Sunday, November 11, 2007

AMA Report Warns of Superbug - Deadly Drug-Resistant Bacteria

A new report from the American Medical Association indicates that 18,650 people died in 2005 of a drug-resistant strain of bacteria.

The super-bug, known as MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus areus) is on the increase all over the United States. The AMA report estimates that between 25 to 30% of Americans carry the infection in their bodies. Parents worry because several high school athletes have died from MRSA infections.

Dr. Julie Gerberding, of the Center for Disease Control, said it was important to get medical treatment early for wounds that are swollen and red. Death occurs when people wait too long for treatment.

"The healthy person -like the high school athlete-is going to be able to be treated adequately without adverse outcome," she said. Children undergoing MRSA treatment can be allowed to go to school.

The study appeared in the October 18, 2007 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

4TroubledTeens offers help for parents of struggling teenagers, including programs for troubled teens and private schools that offer therapy in addition to accredited academics.

Labels: athletics, health, school

posted by ByParents-forParents at 12:41 PM 0 comments

Saturday, October 20, 2007

Talking to Kids about Smoking

The dangers of tobacco use are well-known. Despite that, about 20 percent of the nation's adolescents smoke cigarettes, and about 8 percent chew tobacco. This Q and A from the Des Moines, Iowa register helps parents figure out the best ways to talk to their kids about smoking.

"According to the Centers for Disease Control 'parents can be the greatest influence in their kids' lives.' Being involved and interested in a child's life is a great way to avoid a whole host of problems. The Centers for Disease Control also suggests 'talking directly to children about the risks of tobacco use. If friends or relatives died from tobacco-related illnesses, let your kids know.'"

The Q and A goes on to suggest being open with kids about the diseases and other risks of tobacco. Don't use scare tactics, but be honest. Choosing to dine in restaurants and other places that are smoke-free can help keep kids away from cigarettes as well.

Learn about adolescent drug treatment at Adolescent-Substance-Abuse.com.

Labels: health, influences, smoking

posted by ByParents-forParents at 12:05 PM 1 comments

Monday, October 15, 2007

Girls Report More Concussions Than Boys in Similar Sports

Teenaged girls who participate in sports report 68% more concussions than their male counterparts, according to a study in the Journal of Athletic Training. In the case of some sports, like basketball, the rate of concussion is three times more for girls.

Researchers from Ohio State University analyzed data kept in 2004-2005 by 425 athletic trainers. They believe that girls may simply be more honest about their injuries than boys are.

Labels: athletics, health, sports

posted by ByParents-forParents at 9:55 PM 0 comments

Thursday, October 04, 2007

Second-hand Smoke Affects Academic Testing

Second-hand smoke can affect more than a child's health. A recently published study found that it also significantly affected academic performance.

UK students take O-level (ordinary level) and A-level (advanced level) exams at 16 to 18 years of age to test their knowledge of various subjects. The researchers found that students who had at least one parent smoking in the home were 30 percent less likely to pass their O levels. Teens who smoked one to nine cigarettes a week were 45 percent more likely to fail, while those who smoked 10 or more cigarettes weekly were at a 67 percent increased risk of failing this exam."

The study was conducted on over 6,300 kids and also found that, though prenatal smoking causes other health risks, it didn't affect academic performance at all.

Copper Canyon Academy is a boarding high school for girls in Arizona that offers accredited academics and therapy.

Labels: health, parents, smoking

posted by ByParents-forParents at 9:21 PM 0 comments

Monday, September 24, 2007

Starting High School Creates High Stress Levels in Students

Some educators believe that the first year of high school is the most stressful in a child's school career. Now researchers at the Centre for Studies on Human Stress plan to measure saliva stress-levels among teens entering high school to study the effects of stress on their capacity to learn effectively.

The pilot program study will involve 500 children in Montreal.

A previous research project at the Centre found that children from families of low socio-economic status experienced more stress than children from wealthier families. However, the same researchers made an unexpected discovery when they found that nearly all students in the year before high school had elevated stress levels regardless of family backgrounds.

Tania Schramek, coordinator of the pilot study, said that starting high school provides all the ingredients for human stress because it is a situation that is new, unpredictable and threatening, and one that creates a sense of loss of control.

Private boarding high schools, like the Academy at Swift River, offer therapy and counseling for students feeling stressed out about school and life in general.

Labels: health, school, stress

posted by ByParents-forParents at 3:54 PM 0 comments

Sunday, September 16, 2007

Caffeine and Technology Keeps Teens Awake at Night

Two studies of teenagers' sleeping habits indicate that 45% are getting less than the optimal nine hours a night, and 30% sleep less than seven hours.

One study links loss of sleep to the use of caffeinated beverages. Another links it to having computers, television and other technology in a teen's bedroom.

Researchers at the University of Alabama found that teens who drink caffeinated beverages get less sleep than those who do not. About 75% of teens drink at least one caffeinated drink a day. Professor Beverly Sedlacek said that teens use the beverages to get by on less sleep, and "getting by" is not as healthy as getting adequate sleep.

A study of 1000 British teens found that many teens fall asleep watching television, listening to music, or using the computer. This produces "junk sleep" that is not as rejuvenating as normal sleep, according to The Sleep Council of Great Britain. The Council reported that technology is "exaggerating night-owlism in teenagers," and recommended that parents enforce "turn-off" times.

A private high school, like Mount Bachelor Academy in Oregon, uses a very structured environment to make sure students get the rest they need to perform their best during the day.

Labels: health, influences, sleep_deprivation

posted by ByParents-forParents at 11:50 AM 0 comments

Sunday, September 09, 2007

Caution: Carrying A Heavy Backpack May be Dangerous to Your Kid's Health

A report from the American Physical Therapy Association says that carrying a backpack weighing more than 10 to 15% of a child's weight will throw off his or her posture, leading to muscle strain and vulnerability to injuries.

The APTA suggests that children wear two shoulder straps, put heaviest items closer to their backs, and use hip and chest belts to transfer weight from their backs to their hips and torsos. The group also recommends wheeled backpacks with handles long enough so that a child does not have bend over to reach them.

Cedars Academy non verbal learning disorder schools offer specialized programs for students with learning disabilities like ADHD and Aspergers.

Labels: backpacks, health, safety

posted by ByParents-forParents at 4:27 PM 0 comments

Saturday, May 26, 2007

Boys Believe "Macho Guys" Too Cool to Visit Doctors

A study of teenage boys indicates that many do not like to go to the doctor because they believe that is an unmanly thing to do.

Researchers at Johns Hopkins University analyzed data from 1700 young men ages 15 to 19 years old and found that the boys with the most traditional beliefs about manhood were less likely to visit a doctor. Traditional beliefs were measured by affirmative answers to questions like "Is it essential for a guy to get respect from others?"

If a teenage boy did visit a doctor, he was unlikely to discuss issues such as birth control and sexually transmitted diseases like AIDS. The researchers also reported that while girls openly discuss topics like sex and menstruation with their mothers and physicians, boys do not usually have such discussions with parents or health care providers.

This study appears in the April issue of Pediatrics.

If your son is too cool to talk to a doctor, then how do you get him to open up? Equine therapy and outdoor therapy are two great ways to get teens to work on their issues and get to healthy place in their lives. Learn more at Animal-AssistedTherapy.com and WildernessProgramsInfo.com.

Labels: communication, health, teenagers

posted by ByParents-forParents at 10:44 AM 0 comments

Thursday, May 24, 2007

Multiple Stressors On Children Affects Their Physical Health

Children who are under constant stress from family fighting, violence, noise and other pressures put more strain on their bodies than children who live without such multiple stressors. However, a supportive mother can make a difference in how much strain they experience.

The research may explain why low-income children often do not function as well in school.

Researchers from Cornell University's College of Human Ecology studied blood pressure measurements and urine samples from 207 children from upstate New York over a period of several years. They found that exposure to chronic and multiple stress factors affected the children's neuroendocrine hormonal systems, cardiovascular responses and metabolism. However, if they received support from their mothers in coping with such stressors, the effect was less.

This study appears in the March 2007 issue of Developmental Psychology.

Labels: development, health, stress

posted by ByParents-forParents at 11:42 PM 0 comments

Sunday, April 01, 2007

Stressed-Out Kids Suffer More Fevers

Children who live in families that report more stress than normal have more fevers and illness, according to a new study done at the University of Rochester Medical Center.

Researchers studied 169 children ages 5 to 10 for three years. Parents kept weekly records of their children's health and used digital thermometers to keep track of fevers. They also answered questions about the family's stress levels.

The study found that families reporting greater stress had children had fevers more often.

"I figured families under stress might think their children were sick more often when they actually weren't," said Dr. Mary Caserta, principal investigator on the study. "But fevers are not subjective. These kids living with chronic stress in their families really were sick more often."

The researchers also concluded that a child's natural killer cell function increases under chronic stress, but they were not sure why. This study appears in the March 2007 issue of the Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine.

Labels: children, health, stress

posted by ByParents-forParents at 9:12 PM 0 comments

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