Adolescence
Sleep
Only 27% of high school teens get 8 or more hours of sleep on a school night
Health
11-20.5% of 12-19-year-olds are overweight
The less sleep a person gets a night, their memory decreases when it comes to learning materials in school
Physical activity in teens begin to increase at the age of 13, and dramatically come to a stop at age 18 for girls
Teens that get less than 8 hours of sleep are more likely to be emotional, have peer-related problems, higher anxiety, and suicidal ideation
Being active during this stage in development reduces obesity, lowers blood pressure, is less likely to get type 2 diabetes, getting depression, and all in all increases memory and academics
Ahh..Puberty..
One of the best and worst times for teens this age is by far puberty. Their bodies, as well as their brains, are developing and changing very fast, which can be a confusing and scary time for them. It is our job to be there for them and reassure them that they are not alone.
Male Puberty
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Hair straightens
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Minor voice change
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First ejaculation
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maximum growth in height & weight
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facial hair begins to grow
Testosterone: the male hormone that is in charge of genital development, increased height, deepening voice
Female Puberty
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Growth in breast size
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Growth of pubic & armpit hair
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Hips widen
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Increase in height
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Menstruation occurs
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Weight gain
Estradiol: kind of estrogen in girls that is in charge of breasts, uterine, and skeletal development
Substance Use & Abuse
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In a survey done in 2017, there were 8% of 8th graders that stated that they have drunk alcohol in the last 30 days
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One of the latest and deadliest ways to mix their alcohol is with energy drinks. Mixing a depressant (alcohol) and a stimulant (caffeine) causing the individual to be "wide-awake drunk" thinking it is okay for them to drive
ATTENTION TO PARENTS WITH TEENS THAT VAPE
A few years ago, companies came out with E-cigarette in order to have a healthier alternative to smoking in order to have people try to quit smoking cigarettes. However, vaping, even though it isn't proven yet, could be worse.
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Over the years with regular cigarettes, it took people a long time to develop lung cancer. Just within the last few years, teens specifically as well as adults have had serious health complications due to vaping. Fluid fills their lungs, causing their body to shut down.
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A lot of teens hide this terrible habit from their parents and in some cases, it is too late when their parents find out.
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In the turn of the century, around 45,000 8-10th graders said that they have used drugs
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In 2006-2017, there has been a large increase in drug use (specifically marijuana)
New Way to Get High
This is called a Dab Pen. The contents inside work sort of the same as a vape, but instead of nicotine, inside these pens have wax or dabs inside that contain THC, which causes the user to get high
Warning Signs
If you are finding odd pieces around​​​​​
Vapes have a lot of detachable pieces to it
Abdominal cough and constant clearing of the throat
Shortness of breath in once easy activities
There are sweet smells around the house, specifically in their room
They can buy pods that have certain smells to them like cotton candy, french toast, or even vanilla. These can be the most dangerous because we are still unsure what chemicals are in those pods
Referenced and used info from 17th Edition Life Span & Development written by John Santrock