Mercy Medical Center North Iowa - Pediatric and Adolescent Adolescence 11-14

Mercy Network

Get adequate sleep. The average adolescent requires about 8 hours of sleep.
Exercise vigorously at least three times per week.
Discuss with a health professional or your coach athletic conditioning, weight training, fluids, and weight gain or loss.
Read a book instead of watching television.
See a dentist every six months.

Wear a seat belt in the car.
Learn to swim.
Protect your self from skin cancer by putting sunscreen on before you go outside for long periods of time.
Discuss with your parents safety rules for the home, including those about visitors, use of the telephone, and what to do in case of fire or other emergencies.
Wear a helmet when on a motorcycle, in an all-terrain vehicle, or riding a bicycle.
Wear protective sports gear such as mouth guard or face protector.
Avoid high noise levels, especially in music head sets.
Do not carry or use a weapon of any kind.
Learn techniques to protect yourself from physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, including rape by either strangers or acquaintances.
Seek help if you are physically or sexually abused or fear that you are in danger.

Identify a supportive adult who can give you accurate information about sex.
Ask a health professional any questions you have about body changes during puberty.
Get accurate information about birth control and sexually transmitted diseases from a physician, public health department, or Planned Parenthood.
Having sexual feelings is normal, but having sex should be a well thought out decision. Do not have sex if that is not what you want. Plan your approach to pressure to have sex.
Not having sexual intercourse is the safest way to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV infection/AIDS.
If you are engaging in sexual activity, including intercourse, ask a health professional for an examination and discuss methods of birth control.
If you are confused or concerned about your sexual feelings talk to a health professional.

· Set reasonable but challenging goals. Working through new challenges can increase your self-confidence. Learn new skills that may be useful with your friends, family, or community (e.g., CPR).
Accept who you are and enjoy both the adult and the child in you.
Trust your own feelings as well as listening to the ideas of good friends and valued adults.
Seek help if you often feel angry, sad, nervous or hopeless, or feel that things are just not going right.
Learn how to deal with stress.
Spend time with you family doing something you all enjoy.
Participate in social activities, community groups, and team sports.
Discuss with a health professional and your family and friends your strategies and coping mechanisms for handling negative peer pressure.
Identify talents and interests that you want to pursue.
Begin to think about college options, vocational training, military, or other career choices.

If you are anxious about the transition to middle school or high school, discuss it with a health professional.
Become responsible for your own attendance, homework, and course selection.
If you feel frustrated with school or are thinking about dropping out, discuss your feelings and options with a trusted adult.
Participate in school activities.
Discuss current events and social responsibility with friends, family, teachers, and others.

Do not smoke, use smokeless tobacco, drink alcohol, or use drugs, diet pills, or steroids.
If you smoke, use drugs or alcohol, discuss this with a health professional or other trusted adult.
Avoid situations where drugs or alcohol are easily available.
Support friends who choose not to use tobacco, alcohol, drugs, steroids or diet pills.
Become a peer counselor to prevent substance abuse.