Why Talking to Your Teen About Health Education Is Essential

Many health behaviors that develop during adolescence, including nutrition, physical activity, and sleep habits, among others, can persist into adulthood. Improved health in the tween and teen years can contribute to better health in adulthood. For many teens, there is likely not enough health education available overall, and that which may be available to them may not be grounded in evidence or considered ‘trustworthy’. So, teens often benefit from guidance on where to get their health information – for example, school health class, medical offices, social media, web-based platforms, and you, the parent or caring adult.

Helping equip your teen with the tools to find trustworthy, relevant information about their developing bodies and minds is essential for promoting healthy adolescent development. This can feel like a big ask of parents, and maybe one that you don’t feel ready to take on. Our goal is to give you tools to start the conversation and help your teen navigate where to look for education and resources.

Prepare teens with health education to feel secure.

Adolescence is a time of astounding changes in the physical body and developing brain. It is also a time of critical identity formation. Given that these physical and emotional changes often occur simultaneously during adolescence, it is not hard to see how much of a young person’s sense of self and well-being is tied to their body. As a parent or caring adult, you can help shape this process. When you provide your child with the tools needed to care for their changing bodies – and by tools we mean the ability to identify trusted individuals and/or resources they can turn to –  both educational materials and the ability to identify trustworthy educational materials – you protect their dignity and build their confidence at a key developmental moment.

One example is education on period health. Periods are a key physical developmental milestone of puberty, and yet many young teens experience shame or embarrassment. Preparing your teens for their first period can be protective. Education has the potential to normalize these experiences and our changing bodies, helping our teens develop better emotional regulation, acceptance, and resilience.

Provide teens with mental health education during this time.

Just as the physical changes of puberty can directly impact identity formation, so can mental health. Puberty is a time of rapid hormone shifts, brain development, and social changes that all have the potential to lead to high rates of anxiety and depression. This, in turn, can impact self-esteem. Education on mental health can also be protective. Normalizing the emotional ups and downs of adolescence can help teens feel understood rather than isolated, reducing shame and helping them seek support when needed. Every step we take to minimize shame and stigma in young lives creates room for healthy development.

Teens want health information.

An Issue Brief from PolicyLab at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia on health education in schools reveals findings confirming that teens seek information on a range of health topics – ideally from trusted sources. Teens often turn to social media when education from a trusted adult is not available to them; however, they recognize that it can also be a source of misinformation. Of particular concern, teens report that limited or incomplete education can inadvertently lead to unhealthy behaviors. The takeaway: existing health education in schools routinely does not meet teens’ needs. One solution is to engage teens in health education to help them access information that better meets their needs.

Here are a few helpful ways to get the conversation started.

“There are many places to get information on your physical and mental health – school health class, friends, social media – where do you get your information?”

It is important to understand where your teen is getting their health information. Not all sources are equal, and different sources might be better or worse at meeting your teen’s individual needs. For example, findings from PolicyLab’s research and others show that health education in schools can be either affirming or alienating, depending on the context and educator. Teens similarly find that social media is a resource that serves them both positively and negatively. Therefore, teens may prioritize the health information sources they believe are most effective for them.

“How do you like to learn about your own health?”

What is effective for one teen might not be effective for another. Keep in mind that the places your teens prefer to get their information might not be the places you consider the safest or most accurate. Try to use your teen’s preferences in a way that fits into the safe boundaries you establish as a parent. For example, if they like to access health information on social media, identify sources that you both agree are trustworthy. Consider using these helpful recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Be curious and learn more to make an impact.

As a parent or caring adult, you can shape what your teen learns at home and influence the sources they find online. If you are curious to learn more about what is shaping school-based health education, some starting points include research on what works in schools, state or local school boards, and health education standards. Your voice can shape how your teen understands and cares for their health for life.

This piece was written by Shelby H. Davies, MD, Affiliated Faculty at CPTC. Dr. Davies is an attending physician in the Division of Adolescent Medicine at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and Faculty Scholar at PolicyLab.