Winter 2017

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Dear Parents,
We are teenagers. We go to the same schools, walk the same halls and experience the same things as your child. High school can be a major source of stress for a child – planning for the future, friendships, copious amounts of school work and A LOT of pressure. As a parent there are many things you can do to help and support your child.

Dealing with Stress
Your child will most definitely have stress throughout high school, but you can help them deal with it in a healthy way. Here are some ideas that we like:

Set aside a specific work location in the house for homework
Encourage your child to get enough sleep
Exercise with your child to help you both relieve stress
Have healthy but yummy snack options available in the house
Get your child a planner and show them how to use it
Use a family calendar for homework dates and extracurricular commitments.

Course Selection
Choosing courses can be really stressful. If your child does not take the prerequisites required for a critical course, they may delay their opportunity to pursue their desired career. Encourage your child to take a variety of courses so they can figure out what they enjoy. School guidance counsellors can also help. Avoid putting pressure on them and let them know you are there to help.

Exams
Exams can be very stressful for all students.

Encourage your child to start studying well in advance of their exams. Help them plan that time in their schedule.
Make sure your child gets lots of sleep the night before an exam.
Study breaks are important. Have lots of healthy snack options available for them.
Your child’s teacher can be a huge support to them. If they are feeling stressed about an exam, encourage them to ask their teacher for extra help.

This is a message to parents from the THINK team. THINK is a group of high school students that work at the Perth District Health Unit to educate their peers about important health topics.

Understanding the Teen Years

Adapted from kidshealth.org

You've lived through 2 a.m. feedings, toddler temper tantrums, and the back-to-school blues. So why is the word "teenager" causing you so much worry?

When you consider that the teen years are a period of intense growth, not only physically but emotionally and intellectually, it's understandable that it's a time of confusion and upheaval for many families.

Despite some adults' negative perceptions about teens, they are often energetic, thoughtful, and idealistic, with a deep interest in what's fair and right. So, although it can be a period of conflict between parent and child, the teen years are also a time to help kids grow into the distinct individuals they will become.

Here are some tips for parenting during the teen years:

Educate Yourself
Read books and think back on your own teen years. Remember your struggles with acne or your embarrassment at developing early — or late. Expect some mood changes in your child, and be prepared for more conflict as he or she matures as an individual.

Put Yourself in Your Child's Place
Practice empathy by helping your child understand that it's normal to be a bit concerned or self-conscious, and that it's OK to feel grown-up one minute and like a kid the next.

Pick Your Battles
If teenagers want to dye their hair, paint their fingernails black, or wear funky clothes, think twice before you object. Teens want to shock their parents and it's a lot better to let them do something temporary and harmless; save your objections for things that really matter, like tobacco, drugs and alcohol, or permanent changes to their appearance.

Set Expectations
Teens might act unhappy about the expectations their parents place on them. Still, they usually understand and need to know that their parents care enough about them to expect certain things such as good grades, acceptable behavior, and sticking to the house rules. If parents have appropriate expectations, teens will likely try to meet them.

Inform Your Teen — and Stay Informed Yourself
The teen years often are a time of experimentation, and sometimes that experimentation includes risky behaviors. Don't avoid the subjects of sex and drugs, alcohol, or tobacco use. Discussing tough topics openly with kids before they're exposed to them actually makes it more likely that they'll act responsibly when the time comes.

Respect Kids' Privacy
To help your teen become a young adult, you'll need to grant some privacy. In other words, your teenager's room, texts, e-mails, and phone calls should be private. You also shouldn't expect your teen to share all thoughts or activities with you at all times. Of course, for safety reasons, you should always know where teens are going, when they'll be returning, what they're doing, and with whom, but you don't need to know every detail.

Make Appropriate Rules
Reward your teen for being trustworthy. Has he or she kept to a 10 p.m. curfew on weekends? Move it to 10:30 p.m. And does a teen always have to go along on family outings? Encourage a reasonable amount of family time together, but be flexible. Don't be insulted when your growing child doesn't always want to be with you. Think back: You probably felt the same way about your mom and dad.

Will This Ever Be Over?
As kids progress through the teen years, you'll notice a slowing of the highs and lows of adolescence. And, eventually, they'll become independent, responsible, communicative young adults.

So remember the motto of many parents with teens: We're going through this together, and we'll come out of it — together!

Is it a Cold, the Flu or Norovirus?

By Jessica Thompson, Public Health Promoter

The common cold and influenza (the flu) are respiratory infections. Norovirus causes gastrointestinal symptoms (nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea). Sometimes people call Norovirus the “stomach flu” but it is not related to influenza. The following chart describes the symptoms of each virus.

The annual flu shot can protect against influenza but will not prevent vomiting and diarrhea. This year you can get your flu shot at:

Your family doctor’s office – ages 6 months and over
Pharmacies – ages 5+
The Perth District Health Unit. For those who do not have a family doctor and who wish to receive a flu shot or have their child receive their first or second dose of FluMist vaccine.

Call Health Line at 519-271-7600 ext 267 or toll-free 1-877-271-7348 ext 267.

Water Does Wonders – Take the Pledge and Drink More!

By Michele Hurd, Public Health Dietitian

We all know it – water is good for us. It’s available for free and important for good health. So why aren’t we drinking more of it? An informal survey of students revealed a few reasons why water is not their ‘go-to’ beverage for quenching thirst: it isn’t always available; it tastes boring compared to pop, and it isn’t ‘cool’ (what does that say about the power of advertising to teens?!) It’s time to make water the first choice for quenching thirst. Teens who drink plenty of water will be less likely to drink sugary beverages which are a health concern.

Everyone has a role to play to encourage teens to choose water.
Drink water yourself and let teens see you doing it
Keep sugary drinks out of the house and a jug of water in the fridge
Promote water and make it easy to get in places where teens learn and spend their time (schools, rec centres, arenas, etc.)
Have teens carry a refillable water bottle with them whenever possible
Make a commitment to drink more water and join others who are doing the same: Take the Family Water Pledge at waterdoeswonders.ca

Let’s encourage families to make water their first choice when they’re thirsty!

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Congratulations!

Links we Like from Around the Web!

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Copyright © 2015 Perth District Health Unit, All rights reserved.

Our contact information is:
Perth District Health Unit
653 West Gore St.
Stratford, ON
N5A 1L4
519-271-7600 / 1-877-271-7348

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Perth District Health Unit · 653 West Gore Street · Stratford, On N5A 1L4 · Canada