15 - 17 Years
This is a time of changes for how teenagers think, feel, and interact with others, and how their bodies grow.
SAFETY
You play an important role in keeping your child safe―no matter how old he or she is. Here are a few tips to
help protect your child:
- Talk with your teen about the dangers of driving and how to be safe on the road. You can steer your teen in the right direction. CDC’s "Parents Are the Key" campaign has steps that can help. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death from unintentional injury among teens, yet few teens take measures to reduce their risk of injury.
- Remind your teen to wear a helmet when riding a bike, motorcycle, or all-terrain vehicle. Unintentional injuries resulting from participation in sports and other activities are common.
- Talk with your teen about suicide and pay attention to warning signs. Suicide is the third leading cause of death among youth 15 through 24 years of age.
- Talk with your teen about the dangers of drugs, drinking, smoking, and risky sexual activity. Ask him what he knows and thinks about these issues, and share your feelings with him. Listen to what he says and answer his questions honestly and directly.
- Discuss with your teen the importance of choosing friends who do not act in dangerous or unhealthy ways.
- Know where your teen is and whether a responsible adult is present. Make plans with her for when she will call you, where you can find her, and what time you expect her home.
COGNITIVE (LEARNING, THINKING, PROBLEM SOLVING)
Children in this age group might:
- Learn more defined work habits.
- Show more concern about future school and work plans.
- Be better able to give reasons for their own choices, including about what is right or wrong.
HEALTHY BODIES
- Encourage your teen to get enough sleep and physical activity, and to eat healthy, balanced meals.
Make sure your teen gets 1 hour or more of physical activity each day. - Keep television sets out of your teen’s bedroom.
- Encourage your teen to have meals with the family. Eating together will help your teen make better choices about the foods she eats, promote healthy weight, and give family members time to talk with each other. In addition, a teen who eats meals with the family is more likely to get better grades and less likely to smoke, drink, or use drugs, and also less likely to get into fights, think about suicide, or engage in sexual activity.
- Make sure your child gets the recommended amount of sleep each night: For teenagers 13-18 years, 8–10 hours per 24 hours (including naps)
SOCIAL & EMOTIONAL
Children in this age group might:
- Have more interest in romantic relationships and sexuality.
- Go through less conflict with parents.
- Show more independence from parents.
- Have a deeper capacity for caring and sharing and for developing more intimate relationships.
- Spend less time with parents and more time with friends.
- Feel a lot of sadness or depression, which can lead to poor grades at school, alcohol or drug use, unsafe sex, and other problems.
Did you know ?
- Most girls will be physically mature by now, and most will have completed puberty.
- Boys might still be maturing physically during this time.
- There may concerns about body size, shape, or weight.
- Eating disorders also can be common.
- Your teen is developing his unique personality and opinions.
- Relationships with friends are still important, your teen will have other interests as he develops a more clear sense of who he is.
- Your teen prepares for more independence and responsibility; many start working, and many will be leaving home soon after high school.
Parenting Tips can be see in the checklist above
Tell your healthcare provider if you notice any of these signs of possible developmental delay for this age. You can also talk with someone in your community who is familiar with services for youth in your area.
