The teen years bring about much change for girls — not only socially and emotionally, but physically, too. During the early adolescent years, a girl will start to develop breasts and pubic hair under her arms and around her private parts. She soon will experience vaginal discharge, as well. Typically, a girl will get her […]
Snapchat: A guide to keeping our teens safe
If you have teens or tweens in your house, you’ve probably heard about Snapchat — the uber-popular social messaging app that users use to exchange pictures and videos (called snaps) that capture life’s everyday moments. But while many parents have heard about Snapchat, most of us can admit we don’t know the ins and outs […]
When ‘clean eating’ gets dirty
Clean eating has become the new buzzword in recent years. In an effort to eat healthier — and maybe even lose weight — teens are turning to whole foods or foods in their less processed states, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, and high-quality dairy and animal proteins. As parents, it sounds like […]
Help your teen develop healthy romantic relationships and watch for red flags in unhealthy ones
Teen dating violence is no small problem and, sadly, is much more common than many parents believe. It’s estimated 1 in 3 girls in this country is a victim of physical, emotional or verbal abuse from a dating partner, according to the National Domestic Violence Hotline. Nearly 1.5 million high-school students nationwide experience physical abuse […]
Family says counseling, open communication key to strong mental health
For Cohen Pierce, it was triggered by the transition to middle school. For his younger sister Lila, it was most apparent the morning of test days. The “its” in both cases were mental health concerns. Cohen’s depression manifested as changes in his personality. He went from his normal happy-go-lucky self to feeling down and negative […]
Teen suicide: What parents need to know
Dr. Laura Markley, a child and adolescent psychiatrist at Akron Children’s Division of Pediatric Psychiatry and Psychology, answers questions about teen suicide. Suicide is one of the leading causes of death in adolescents in Ohio. According to the 2020 Ohio Child Fatality review, more teens and young adults in the U.S. die from suicide than […]