A teenager reaching adolescence is at full stretch both mentally and physically. The demands on the organs of the body are intense at this time and although the youth of that body will compensate for and survive a large degree of misuse, the damage done could eventually show itself. The young athlete under an abnormally demanding training schedule might be storing up problems for later life.
There are several things to watch out for in the growing adolescent. You may not be able to enforce all that you would like and certain established patterns may well cause revolt. However if you are consistent, and remember that praise is even more important when it is harder to find grounds for it, you will do well.
Food
A healthy diet is fundamental at this time. Energy must be restored and it must be deeply founded energy, not just a quick lift. Teenagers often have enormous appetites. They also have the freedom to spend their money on processed snacks and sweets which give them an illusion of energy. The visit during lunch hour to the sweet shop is a social occasion too. For some teachers and doctors, there is an undeniable link between unruly behaviour and excessive intake of processed foods. You cannot prevent a teenager eating the worst things away from home. What you can do is make sure that when they are hungry at home, they can fill up on sound whole foods like wholemeal bread and cereal. The Food section deals with specific areas of diet, vitamins and supplements.
Sleep
Ironically, the teenager often appears to sleep too much rather than not enough — but at the wrong times for real refreshment and for the efficient running of family life, especially those members of the household who have to get up early for work. Television, videos, and boredom are the chief culprits for late nights. Activities should be encouraged earlier in the evening. If the whole family regularly drifts off into a dream in front of the television you have a perfect recipe for listlessness and boredom. It almost becomes too much trouble to go to bed. Unfortunately, it happens too often with parents who are tired from work and have little energy to do anything creative in the evenings (see Rest).
Ailments
There are several body problems which are very common in adolescence and which reflect the stress it faces. Some, like acne, can cause much psychological distress and be at the root of difficult behaviour. Many ailments which are dealt with in the Problems section can be tackled in a healthy way, avoiding the use of too many antibiotics and similar prescribed medicines which may store up problems for the future.
Friends
The health of a teenager will, in part, be a reflection of the group with whom he mixes. Drama, sports and outdoor activities serve many healthy purposes; hanging around with nothing to do or habitual visits to the same place is self destructive. Outright attempts to prevent a teenager from seeing friends thought to be ’undesirable’ may very well be counter productive. Teenagers have eloped because they have been allowed no time to learn the true quality of their relationship. Slow and gentle coersion is better, and an exciting alternative even better still (see Friends & No Friends).
Leisure
A child who never seems to have any homework or cannot do it without much fuss and frustration may not be cut out for academic work. A child who spends all his time at school work will be missing much of the joy of life. For both, creative leisure activity is really important. Parents play a big part here by patiently and confidently searching for any sign of curiosity or interest, encouraging and sharing it, and participating in the spark of genuine pleasure that anything from cooking to mountain climbing eventually arouses. Passive leisure — watching someone else ’entertain’ — is much too easy, and slowly destructive. We must try to give our children the means to fulfil their leisure time, for all time. If we feel we cannot help because we have not been taught ourselves, then we must get help from anyone who can. A healthy relationship with the school is valuable here. (See the literature on Home and School.)
The health of all members of the family depends on their ability to approach everything positively. Discipline comes from a consistency at home, not from sudden outbursts of fury. Within this consistently caring structure the long haul through adolescence can lead to great things.