Your Child's 13-Year Checkup

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.

• Help your teen make healthy diet choices:

  • Eat together as a family as often as possible.

  • Offer a balanced diet that includes lean protein (like chicken and fish), whole grains, fruits and vegetables, and low-fat dairy.

  • 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).

  • Offer plenty of iron-rich foods such as lean meat, poultry, seafood, beans, and iron-fortified items (such as bread and cereals).

  • If your teen drinks juice, limit it to no more than 8 ounces (240 ml) a day.

  • 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.

• 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).

• 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.

• Help your teen make a plan for media use (including smartphones, tablets, computers, video games, and TV). The plan should:

  • Balance screen use with healthy behaviors like spending time with others, being physically active, and getting 8–10 hours of sleep each night.

  • Make the bedroom a media-free room.

  • Make mealtimes media-free.

• Talk to your teen about the dangers of smoking (including e-cigarettes), using drugs, and drinking alcohol.

• 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.

• Set a good example by making your own healthy behavior choices.

• Stay involved with your teen's school. If you're worried about learning difficulties or problems with other students, talk to your teen and the teachers to find out how to help.

• Encourage your teen to take more responsibility for homework, such as where and when to do it.

• Encourage your teen to read.

• Help your teen find activities that are safe and enjoyable, such as sports, music, and clubs.

• Talk about the normal changes that happen during puberty, such as oily skin, body odor, and hair growth in the armpits and pubic area. Teens have other changes too:

  • In girls, puberty usually starts with breast development and then the growth of pubic hair. Menstruation (periods) usually follows about 2 years after breast development begins. Most girls get their first period when they're 12 or 13 years old; others get it as early as age 9 or as late as age 16. Talk to your daughter about menstruation before she gets her first period.

  • In boys, testicular enlargement is usually the first sign of puberty. The penis gets longer and pubic hair begins to grow. The voice may begin to deepen and crack. Reassure your son that erections and wet dreams (ejaculation during sleep) are normal.

• Help your teen develop a positive body image. Try to:

  • Recognize your teen for a variety of reasons, not just for how they look.

  • Encourage your teen not to compare themselves with others. Talk about how movies and other media show body types that are not typical and, in some cases, not healthy.

  • Be a good role model. Show acceptance of your own body. Focus on your strengths and accomplishments more than your looks.

• Help your teen handle everyday stress in healthy ways. Teach your teen to:

  • Figure out what causes stress and make a plan to deal with it. For example, if there is no time for homework in the evenings, consider stopping an evening activity.

  • Learn what is calming, such as listening to music or going for a walk.

  • Get enough sleep, eat well, and exercise.

  • Get help from a trusted friend or adult.

• Talk to your health care provider if you're worried that your teen is depressed. Signs include sadness, changes in school performance, loss of interest in activities, and writing or talking of suicide or death.

• Make sure your teen always wears a seatbelt when in the car.

• 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.

• Peer pressure can lead to dangerous activities, such as drinking or smoking. Know who your teen is with and what they're doing.

• Remove or lock up alcohol and medicines (prescription and nonprescription).

• 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.

• Teach your teen how to get help if they're feeling unsafe or bullied. Talk about cyberbullying.

• Do not let your teen ride all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), such as mini-bikes, 3-wheelers, or quads.

• Be sure that your teen uses proper sports safety equipment, including helmets, mouth and eye guards, and padding.

• 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.

• Help your teen avoid secondhand smoke.

• Ask your health care provider if you should take your daughter to a gynecologist. This first visit usually does not involve a pelvic exam unless she is having problems.

• Encourage your teen to brush their teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and to floss once a day. Take your teen to the dentist every 6 months.

• In the sun, your teen should apply a water-resistant sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30, and re-apply every 2 hours or more often if swimming or sweating.

• Follow your health care provider's instructions on immunizations (shots) and testing.

• Your health care provider can tell you about help that is available in the community or through a social worker. Talk to your health care provider if you're worried that:

  • You don't have enough food.

  • You don't have a safe place to live.

  • You don't have health insurance.

  • You have a problem with drugs or alcohol.

• Call your health care provider if you have concerns about your teen's health, growth, or development.