Child & Adolescent Development
From WikEd
Adolescence need to make better life choices.
Contents |
[edit] Teens, Eating, Nutrition, and Exercise
- Teens need to be encouraged to pick up healthy eating habits. This includes eating a well-balanced diet that emphasizes healthy proteins, vegetables, fruits, whole grains and minimizes consumption of sweets and fats.
- Adolescents (and younger children) need to be exposed to a variety of different foods and food styles, minimizing the reliance on quick "pick-me-up" foods and junk/fast foods. They should be encouraged to try new foods. In addition to healthy eating habits, adolescent children also need daily physical activity. Exercise burns excess energy, builds strong bones and muscles, and aids in sleeping.
[edit] Teens and Sleep
Research has proven that adolescents need more sleep than adults. According to a study published in the American Journal of Health Studies, "adults should sleep 7 to 9 hours per day, while adolescents ages thirteen to adult should sleep 8.5 to 9.5 hours per day; and children five to twelve years of age should sleep 9 to 11 hours per day." [1] After age fourteen, the optimal amount of sleep sleep for adolescents is about 9 hours. Unfortunately, as most high school teachers can attest to, most adolescents get one-one and a half hours less than the optimal amount per night. Sleep deprivation has been linked to lower cognitive performance and increased behavioral problems.
One way schools can combat this problem is to educate students and promote a good night's sleep as an essential factor in maintaining wellness. Health education centers can also make more efforts to promote good sleep habits. Educating parents about the benefits of sufficient sleep for adolescents and people in general) could help to alleviate this problem.
[edit] Teens and Socialization
The teen years are critical in the development of the social person. Whereas in more basic development, children tend to develop a "best" friend or group of friends (often based on proximity to the home), teens become more mobile and tend to gain exposure to a larger pool of peers. This lends itself to a fluidity in friendships where adolescents may drift from one social group (or clique) to another regularly. Friendships can develop through common interest such as love for sports or music. A sense of aimlessness or even isolation is not uncommon as teens search for a group with which they feel that they "fit."
[edit] Teens and Peer Pressure
- Alcohol
- Drugs
- Sex
- Gangs
- Dress
- Food Choices
- Sports
[edit] Types of Development
Physical- During the teen years, adolescents experience changes in their physical development at a rate of speed unparalleled since infancy.
Cognitive- Most adults recognize that teens have better thinking skills than younger youth.
Psycho-Social- There are five recognized psychosocial issues that teens deal with during their adolescent years: identity, autonomy, intimacy, comfort of one's sexuality, and achievement.
[edit] For Further Information
- FDA Consumer Magazine Article "On the Scene: Good News About Good Nutrition"
- "Get your Child Eating Healthy"
- "Why People Like Fat Food"
- "Recipe Zaar-Recipes to make Yummy Food"
- [http://www.s-r-a.org/conclusions.html Society for Research on Adolescence
- American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
[edit] References
[1] James A Teufel, Stephen L Brown, David A Birch. "SLEEP AMONG EARLY ADOLESCENT STUDENTS" American Journal of Health Studies. College Station: 2007. Vol. 22, Iss. 1; pg. 10
