Walk The Walk - Teenager

Despite the desire for independence that often comes with pre-adolescence and adolescence, parents remain critical role models for their children during this formative period. Youngsters are always watching, learning from adult behavior and replicating it in an effort to develop into strong individuals themselves - making parental guidance more imperative than ever!

Smoking

Your pre-teen or teen years are formative times when you start to piece together your identity and experiment with different behaviors. Unfortunately, parental smoking has been linked to an increased likelihood of a child taking up cigarettes - after all, if Mom & Dad smoke too then surely it can't be as bad as they say... Or can it? It's important for parents not just to warn their children about the dangers of smoking but also demonstrate that there are healthier alternatives out there!

Self-Image

From pre-teen years to teenage, forming a positive self-image is imperative. But how can this be achieved when teens are constantly bombarded with unrealistic expectations of beauty and perfection by the media? Research conducted by Paediatrics and Child Health uncovers just what an impact movie stars, TV actors, as well as magazine covers have on young people's body image – sometimes leading them down dark roads fraught with eating disorders. As the acclaimed child-wellness experts at Kids Health advise, use your words and actions to foster a healthy self image in your teen. Embrace positivity by encouraging that which has nothing to do with physical appearance; provide an avenue of communication where they can express their worries without fear or judgement; lastly - be cognizant of how you portray yourself so as model appropriate behavior for them!