Checkups are a way to make sure your teen is growing well and help you find out if there are any health problems. Return in 1 year for your teen's 14-year checkup.
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Help your teen make healthy diet choices:
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Eat together as a family as often as possible.
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Offer a balanced diet that includes lean protein (like chicken and fish), whole grains, fruits and vegetables, and low-fat dairy.
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Give your teen about 3 servings a day of food and drink with calcium and vitamin D. This can include low-fat or nonfat milk, fortified soy milk, and low-fat cheese and yogurt. Non-dairy sources of calcium include fortified juice, cereal, and bread; dark leafy greens; and tofu (calcium-set).
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Offer plenty of iron-rich foods such as lean meat, poultry, seafood, beans, and iron-fortified items (such as bread and cereals).
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If your teen drinks juice, limit it to no more than 8 ounces (240 ml) a day.
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Do not give your child energy drinks. They can contain lots of caffeine or other caffeine-like stimulants and may be harmful to your teen's health.
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Teach your teen to read food labels to limit foods that are high in fat (such as fried foods), added sugar (soda, sports drinks, etc.), and salt (such as fast food).
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Encourage your teen to get at least 1 hour of physical activity every day. Riding a bike, running, and baseball are great ways for teens this age to stay active.
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Help your teen make a plan for media use (including smartphones, tablets, computers, video games, and TV). The plan should:
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Balance screen use with healthy behaviors like spending time with others, being physically active, and getting 8–10 hours of sleep each night.
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Make the bedroom a media-free room.
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Make mealtimes media-free.
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Talk to your teen about the dangers of smoking (including e-cigarettes), using drugs, and drinking alcohol.
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Talk about relationships and sex. Encourage your teen to wait until they're older for sexual activity. Explain the risks of sexually transmitted infections or STIs (also called sexually transmitted diseases or STDs) and unwanted pregnancy. Be open to questions about sexuality and gender identity.
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Set a good example by making your own healthy behavior choices.
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Make sure your teen always wears a seatbelt when in the car.
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Teach your teen to never get into a car with a driver who has been drinking. Instead, let your teen know to always call you for help.
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Peer pressure can lead to dangerous activities, such as drinking or smoking. Know who your teen is with and what they're doing.
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Remove or lock up alcohol and medicines (prescription and nonprescription).
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Be sure your teen uses the Internet only where you can easily watch. Put safety filters on computers and check which websites your teen visits. Talk about what kinds of searches, texts, pictures, and posts are appropriate and safe.
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Teach your teen how to get help if they're feeling unsafe or bullied. Talk about cyberbullying.
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Do not let your teen ride all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), such as mini-bikes, 3-wheelers, or quads.
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Be sure that your teen uses proper sports safety equipment, including helmets, mouth and eye guards, and padding.
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A gun in the home increases the risk of accidents and injuries. If you do have a gun, keep it unloaded and locked up. Bullets should be locked separately from the gun.
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Help your teen avoid secondhand smoke.