What to expect from your 14-20 year old

Milestones

• Ways you are developing between 14 and 20 years of age.
• You should have regular hearing and vision check-ups. Talk with your doctor at each visit about your health and learn what to do when you have a cold, an earache, or the flu. You should see a dentist at least once a year.
• You need at least 8 hours of sleep each night to do your best at school, work or when driving.
• Exercise is the most effective way to control your weight. Dieting must be planned and supervised. Taking laxatives or vomiting can harm your body. Your body does not get the nutrients it needs to grow. If you have a friend who vomits or uses laxatives to control their weight, they need help.

Healthy Things You Can Do

• A healthy diet is important. You need certain foods to help you grow during your teen years.
• If you are worried about your weight, check with your doctor. At this age, diet for weight loss should be done only with a doctor or nurse’s help. You can do serious harm to your body by dieting. Exercise, healthy foods and fewer snacks are the best way to loose weight.
• A teenager can be very emotional. This is part of the growth process. You can learn to manage stress and anger. You could take a class with a friend or your parents to learn how to resolve problems.
• Everyone feels depressed sometimes. It is a serious problem if it lasts for more than two weeks. If you, or someone you know has several of the following signs, see your doctor or find a counselor:
  • Noticeable change in eating or sleeping habits. You gain or lose weight, can’t sleep, or sleep all of the time.
  • Drastic personality change, or unexplained, unusually severe, violent or rebellious behavior.
  • Withdraw from family and friends, run away, are always bored and/or have difficulty concentrating and/or neglect appearance.
  • Drug or alcohol abuse.
  • Unexplained drop in the quality of schoolwork.
  • A focus on themes of death, giving away prized possessions.
  • Talking about or threatening suicide or making plans, even jokingly, or attempting to kill oneself or others.
• Learn about your sexuality, abstinence, sexually transmitted diseases and birth control. Be sure you know how and why to say “NO” to sex. Talk to your parents or adult advisor about making sexual decisions.

Safety Tips

• Use safety equipment, helmets, pads and seat belts.
• Driving is most risky for teenagers when they have other teens in the car. You and your parents should agree on clear rules about driving, especially with your friends.
• Never drive drunk or ride with anyone who has been drinking. Remember, “Friends don’t let friends drive drunk.” They also don’t let friends ride with a drunk.