Book Review: Girl's Guide to Becoming a Teen

As a parent of two girls, I know that they can use all the information they can get to help navigate the changes they experience during the gain of "40 pounds and 10 inches" associated with puberty!

In 2006 the American Medical Association published a wonderful book to help parent and teens, called "The Girl's Guide to Becoming a Teen." Even though there are some great books about puberty out there for girls, this one is pretty comprehensive, so I thought I would review this one for the awesome readers of Teen Health 411.

I am very glad I read this book, and suggest every family with young girls put a copy on their bookshelf (hence the link above takes you to Amazon.com).

This is a straightforward book about the physical and emotional changes that girls will experience somewhere after age 8 as their bodies change from children to adults. I was not happy that the first few chapters focus on eating, exercise and weight, because I think choosing that focus just feeds right into our culture's obsession with "external beauty," but talking about this with our daughters can mitigate the impact.

The authors are comforting and matter-of-fact about breasts, smells and vaginal discharge, eating, fitness, height, weight, skin, hair and hair removal, teeth, feelings, and relationships. I think a nice addition to the book would have been a hygiene chart, so here is a link to one: hygiene chart for preteens. There is some talk about sexuality, sexually transmitted infections, and contraception, but not in great detail, and very appropriate for preteens.

This book does a good job of addressing the social aspects of being a preteen - making friends, being a friend, bullying, sexual harassment and even sexual assault and abuse all have short sections with important ideas for preteens to think about.

Again, books about puberty are a conversation starter for parents - no book includes all the information preteens need about puberty, relationships, and sexuality - but this book is a great start. Leave it out and your daughter will find it, or encourage her to read it! You want her to understand that you are approachable about health questions and want to be the one who answers her questions.

Be brave - get the book and start reading! It would be a good one for boys, too - to help take the mystery out of periods, breasts, and girls! Good luck!

Photo credit: Christiaan Briggs

Labels: Book Review, Healthline, Parenting, Preteens

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Book Review: Boy's Guide to Becoming a Teen

In 2006 the American Medical Association published a wonderful book called "The Boy's Guide to Becoming a Teen." There are not many good books about puberty for boys out there, so I thought I would review this one for the fabulous readers of Teen Health 411.

I am very glad I read this book, and suggest every family with young boys put a copy on their bookshelf (hence the link above takes you to Amazon.com).

This is a straightforward book about the physical and emotional changes that boys will experience somewhere between 8 and 16 as their bodies change from children to adults. The book is completely sensitive to the range of changes boys experience, with some becoming hairy in the 4th grade and others never being able to grow a beard.

The authors are comforting and matter-of-fact about eating, fitness, height, weight, skin, hair, teeth, feelings, relationships, and most importantly to the target audience, penis 101 - scrotum, testicles, penises, yes, they tend to be crooked, erections, wet dreams and even masturbation are presented simply and without judgment. There is some talk about sexuality and contraception, but not in great detail, and very appropriate for preteens.

What sets this book apart from other books about puberty may be the extent to which it addresses the "feeling" side of boys - self esteem, relationships with peers and parents, strategies for coping with being shy, angry, and even stressed out. Making friends, being a friend, experimentation with substances and cigarettes, bullying, sexual harassment and even sexual assault and abuse all have short sections with important ideas for boys to think about.

I feel the same way about most books about puberty - they are really a conversation starter for parents - not all the information any preteen or teen needs about puberty, relationships, and sexuality - but this book is a great start. If you can tell your son you would like him to read it, and then make an appointment to talk about it - it will help him understand that you are approachable about health questions and want to be the one who answers his questions.

Be brave - get the book and start reading! It would be a good one for girls, too - so they have a little more compassion for the preteen boys in their lives! Good luck!

Photo credit: Christiaan Briggs

Labels: Healthline, Parenting, Preteens

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Youth Trends Results - Entertainment

So what are teens and preteens up to these days with regard to their media consumption?
Are we making headway with all of the public health messages sayings "reduce screen time," get active, and get involved?" Sadly, I have to say we do not seem to be making much progress.

Youth Trends produces a report twice a year called The Tween and Teen Lifestyle Report which is only available to subscribers, but I pulled a few interesting tidbits from the Winter 2008 report off the GenDigital Blog.

Movies

• During a typical month teens see an average of 1.8 movies (in a theater) while tween see an average of 1.3
• Teens prefer action/adventure movies and tweens prefer comedies followed by animated movies
• The most popular movie/actor for girls is Johnny Depp and Pirates of the Caribbean
• The most popular actor for boys was Adam Sadler, followed by Will SMith and Will Ferrell

Internet

• Nine out of ten youth have Internet access at home or school
• Teens spend 12.5 hours a week online while tween s spend only 6.4 hours
• The most popular sites are social networking sites, particularly Facebook
• AddictingGames.com is becoming the top casual gaming site among all youth
  

TV

• TV consumption has actually increased (groan)
• Teens watch an average of 11.9 hours a week and tweens watch an average of 12.2 hours a week
• Boys watch more TV - for teens an average of 13.2 hours a week and for tweens an average of 14.5 hours a week
• Favorite shows for boys - The Office, Family Guy, The Simpsons and South Park
• Favorite shows for girls - The Hills, Grey's Anatomy, House, and Dancing with the Stars

Photo credit: Henrique Vicente

Labels: Healthline, Media, Preteens, Teen Health

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Great Parent Resource

The Palo Alto Medical Foundation (PAMF) offers a wonderful online resource for parents of children of all ages. The physicians and staff members of the PAMF know there are many questions and concerns that come with raising a child.

Whether a parent is looking for answers about a newborn's development, seeking advice on talking to a preteen about difficult topics or watching a teen struggle with making the right decision, PAMF is a great place to look.

Labels: Healthline, Parenting, Preteens, Teen Health

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The Care and Feeding of Adolescents

Given that food is a basic need and we all know that the obesity rate among children has tripled in the last 40 years, and that more and more people are living with Type 2 Diabetes, you would think that there would be lots of support for eating a healthy, well-balanced diet and exercising daily. Riiiight!

That would be in the perfect world, where preteens and teens did not care what their peers think, manufacturers did not advertise food that will make us fat and sick with skinny, beautiful people, school lunch programs did not (usually) suck, and where our children did not spend more time in front of "screens," being bombarded with advertising each year, than they spend in school!

Sadly enough, the best time to instill healthy eating habits is with their first solid food, but if you have gotten past 13 years old and have a teen you are encouraging to eat better, here are some tips:

• Be a role model - exercise daily and eat well;
• Set screen time limits;
• Do outside activities together;
• Cut the portions you usually serve down;
  
• Do not keep the unhealthy, sugary, easy foods in the house;
• Make the healthy foods easy - keep fruit cut up in the fridge with a tasty yogurt, and granola on the counter;
• Pack snacks they can take to school, practice, work, and other outside the home activities;
• Try new recipes until you find the ones they like;
• Go to local farmer's markets and cook meals together using the ingredients; and
  
• Make food something that the family enjoys preparing and sharing.
  

One great resource for helping preteens eat right and understanding the marketing that goes into what we eat is Shaping Youth. I heard the Founder, Amy Jussel, speak last week and couldn't wait to send parents, teachers, and teens to her Blog. This is a new organization so I think the web site will continue to grow.

Good luck and keep up the fight!

Photo credit: mOOrango

Labels: Body Image, Healthline, Preteens, Teen Health

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In Memory of Larry King

Larry King was murdered on February 12, 2008 at his junior high in Oxnard, CA. Larry was only 15 years old and liked to come to school in makeup, high heels, and earrings. When teased by the other boys, he teased them right back and was confident in his own gay, brave self.

The eighth-grade boy who shot him "because he was gay" is being tried as an adult and will likely go to prison for life, which means two lives were lost that day because letting other people be "different" is not OK with some people. I say being different should not matter, at school, work, and especially in our families. Please share the poem below with anyone who you think needs to know they are OK.

Labels: GLBT, Healthline, Preteens, Tragedy

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Family Internet Safety Site

Google & Common Sense Media have teamed up to launch a new site about family Internet safety. The new site has a great video for parents that includes useful "how to" tips about keeping kids safe while they are browsing the Internet. It shows parents how to check which pages and sites kids have been visiting, use filters and includes suggested rules for families.

The only suggestion I would like to add is that parents of preteens also go to the Palo Alto Medical Foundation preteen health site, We're Talking, Too: Preteen Health, and print and sign a copy of the Online Safety Pledge to keep posted near the computer.

Safe surfing everyone!

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Labels: Healthline, Online/Internet Safety, Preteens

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Early Pubertal Development - Girls

Of the 1,250 women answering a recent poll on the We're Talking Teen Health Web site, 37% of them had started their period before they were 13, and 9% had started when they were only 9 years old. In addition, in another poll, 76% of 617 people reported that they started developing hair under their arms and on their genitals before they were 14, and 28% of them had started before they were 11.

There was a time when an 8- or 9-year old girl who started to develop breasts would have been considered abnormal, but that is no longer the case. More and more pediatricians are seeing breast development in younger girls. Now it is only breast development under age 8 that prompts a referral to to an endocrinologist for evaluation. Another change is the length of time between breast development and the onset of periods. It used to take about a year, but now it is not uncommon for there to be a three year gap between breast development and the beginning of periods.

What we do not know is why puberty is starting earlier, particularly in girls. There are theories out there that the early trend in pubertal development is related to better nutrition and health care, or the chemicals in our air, food, and water, which is mighty scary. There is also a tie between obesity rates and early development, with estrogen rates higher in heavier girls (the traditional early developers). There are also some health risks, for example, earlier breast development, and therefore a longer lifetime exposure to estrogen, is a known risk factor for breast cancer, but with the age dropping, "early" might now mean age 6 or 7.

There are three stages of puberty: breast development, pubic hair growth, and finally, menstruation. The average age for menstruation in the U.S. is now 12.5 for white girls, 12.06 for black girls, and 12.09 for Latinas. Another interesting change I have noticed is that we used to say that periods can be sporadic when they start - a young girl might only have one or two during the first year, but more and more I notice that when young girls start, they are quite consistent, with 21 - 35 day cycles.

The parenting implication for this drop in the age of puberty is that we have to have "the talk" with kids who seem way too young to be worrying about reproduction. However, if your daughter is starting to have breasts in third grade, then in 4th grade it is time to start keeping a calendar of mood swings and headaches that may be cyclical, give her the heads up about what her period will look and feel like, give her a Period Pack to start carrying with her, and start talking about growing up.

Sorry, but it's true - whatever the explanation, our daughters bodies are maturing when we still want them to be little girls.

Photo credit: independentman

Labels: Healthline, Preteens, Teen Development

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Preteen PMS - What is a Parent To Do?

Recently I have had several conversations with parents who are just at their wits end with preteens who seem to be experiencing PMS symptoms before they are actually having periods. Their 11- and 12-year old daughters are having headaches or extremely emotional (e.g., getting tearful, angry, sad, or irritated - the bite your head off kind of irritated) on a regular basis.

That is the key - "on a regular basis." Many people may not know that for about a year before preteens actually start having periods their hormones are cycling. This gives all the emotional and physical feelings of menstruation without the evidence (or relief) of the actual period. On top of that, preteens may just not understand why they are having emotions that feel completely intense and uncontrollable.

Parents can help. It is time to have a longer chat about PMS and menstruation, prepare a period pack they can keep with them, and I suggest you print an annual calendar and keep track of the headache and uber-emotional days with little dots - or colors - to help your daughter see the "pattern" and start understanding how her cycle works.

Coping strategies my own daughters liked included chocolate, the one-use heating pads that you wrap around your belly, and you can even try Midol (if there is no contraindication to diuretic use) even if they are not having a period. For the parent, when your daughter bites your head off - stop, shake your head, laugh if you can, and yell "get the chocolate" - you are not going to win!

Photo Credit: mamamusings

Labels: Healthline, Parenting, Preteens

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A Quart of Mucus Every Day

Can I just say that how the nose works is really amazing? I set off to find out why my nose runs in the morning when I ride my bike to work, even if I do not have a cold or allergies, and found out some cool stuff.

First, here is a gross, but interesting body fact for every preteen - our bodies make about a quart of mucus each day.

The purpose of the mucus is to keep the respiratory tract clean and moist. It does not usually make your nose run, it just drains into your throat and you swallow it.

However, when you go outside into the cold weather, your nose tries to warm the cold air, dilating tiny blood vessels under the mucus-secreting glands, increasing the blood supply to your nose, which increases the amount of mucus produced - how cool is that?

Since only so much mucus can drain into your throat to be swallowed, the rest comes out your nose - which is why your nose drips on cold days. OK, call me silly, but I think this is a really interesting factoid! Thanks for letting me share it with you.

Photo credit: jeffK

Labels: Health Fact, Healthline, Preteens

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Your Kids and Investing

There is something about the New Year that encourages people to take stock of their financial standing and think about their futures - maybe it is having to do the taxes! There was an interesting article this month in the Costco Connection by Jim Cramer, the host of "Mad Money" on CNBC and "Real Money," a radio program. In it he suggested that "investing in stocks will make your children much larger profits than if they had kept their money in the bank," which surprised me, but I am a little risk-avoidant.

The other thing that surprised me was that the article suggested teaching children how to invest was more important than teaching them to stay out of debt or budget. Mr. Cramer suggests that starting a bank account is good, and that kids will love the concept of interest, or free money, but that the message will be stronger if the profits are large enough to really impress them. Investing in stocks will also let kids learn about losing money, which sounds a little painful to me, but is a lesson we all learn sooner or later.

I do agree that starting young provides a valuable lesson in investing and that kids, now than ever before, need to be financially savvy. Mr. Cramer suggests the key to getting stocks to come alive for children is to get them involved with something they know and can get excited about. Have them identify a brand or company they are familiar with and buy even one share of that stock, and help your children chart the earnings or loses of that stock, over time. He also suggests family members give stock instead of savings bonds to kids for holidays.

If you are interested in learning more about teaching kids about money, there are many commercial web sites out there, and one I found from PBS that includes a lot of great advice. Good luck!

Photo Credit: Digital Sextant

Labels: Financial Education, Healthline, Parenting, Preteens, Teen Development

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