Every step you take is a step away from where you used to be.
Author: Brian Chargualaf
Health and Development
Middle school students experience a rapid acceleration in growth patterns. For example, the bones lengthen, muscles increase in strength and coordination, glands begin to produce hormones causing sexual changes known as puberty. These changes create a growth spurt in which height increases, body breadth and depth increases, and the heart and lungs grow to adult sizes. Some challenges during this growth spurt are:
- The changes that occur in adolescence are as rapid as that of early childhood.
- During this period the child gains about 20% of adult height and 50% of weight.
- Most of this height will be gained during the 18-24 month "growth spurt."
- This "growth spurt" occurs at different ages for different individuals, generally occurring in girls earlier than in boys.
Recommended Visits to Doctor
- Well-child checkups and immunizations: 10 years, 12 years, 14 years
- Early identification of problems – slow or rapid growth, inappropriate weight for height, maltreatment, delays, vision, hearing, scoliosis (abnormal curves in back), blood pressure, language, acute and chronic diseases, mental health issues
Health IssuesFrom American Medical Association’s Guidelines for Adolescent Preventive Services (GAPS) http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/1980.html
- Promoting parents’ ability to respond to health needs of their adolescents
- Adjustment to puberty and adolescence
- Safety and injury prevention – learning CPR and first aid
- Physical fitness
- Healthy dietary habits and preventing eating disorders and obesity
- Healthy psychosexual adjustment and preventing negative health consequences of sexual behaviors
- Preventing hypertension (high blood pressure)
- Preventing hyperlipidemia (high blood fats – cholesterol and triglycerides)
- Preventing use of tobacco products
- Preventing use and abuse of alcohol and other drugs
- Preventing severe or recurrent depression or suicide
- Preventing physical, sexual, or emotional abuse
- Preventing learning problems
- Preventing infections diseases
AMA recommends 3 health promotion visits to MD – early, middle and late adolescence (11-21)
Normal Growth and Development
- Developing autonomy, mastery, independence
- Coping skills and strategies
- Personal value system
- Progression from concrete to abstract thinking
- Educational and vocational competence
- Academic and career goals
Mental and Social Deveolopment
- Body image – learning to use body competently and treat body well
- Developing sexuality – teaching about menstruation, sexual development, values, reproduction
- Emotional concerns and mental health – separation, depression, self confidence, anger management, worried, stress, threatened; pride in accomplishments; ability to have fun with friends; discuss what good at; someone to talk with when concerned; developing resilience – ability to overcome mistakes, frustration and failure and try again
- Limiting screen time - TV watching, computers, video games
- Social competence – getting along with others, having friends; things proud of in self or relationships; belonging to groups; ability to be alone; handling conflict; bullying or being bullied; shyness; peer pressures
- Prevention, early identification and treatment of behavioral problems: hyperactivity, inability to concentrate, temper, aggression, lying, cruelty, violence
- Success in school – attendance, reading and math at grade level; doing homework; acknowledgement of and pride in achievements; developing interests in careers; parental involvement; teacher reports; identification and treatment of learning disabilities, lack of motivation
- Developing independence – learning to cook, wash, care for house and clothes
- Involvement in community – neighborhood service, faith community, others
- Feeling loved and valued
- Ability to communicate with peers and adults, teachers, health care professionals; have adult role models; ability to discuss concerns; show respect to others of all ages
Internet Safty
Some people like to chat with friends on the internet. Use the following safety tips when on internet:
- Don’t give out personal information about yourself, your family situation, your school, your telephone number, or your address.
- When in chat rooms, remember that people may be who they say they are- the 14 year old girl from New York may actually be a 42 year old man from California.
- If someone harasses you online, says anything inappropriate, or does anything that makes you feel uncomfortable, tell your parents or contact your Internet Service Provider.
TIPS FOR EVALUATING INTERNET SITES The internet has opened up many opportunities for improving our knowledge of health issues and becoming better health care consumers. However, the quality of health information we can get over the internet varies tremendously. Here are some ways to assess the credibility of web pages.
Document the source of the information to the fullest extent possible
- Always examine header information
- Return to the home page to determine the source of the information.
Determine the credibility of the source.
- Is it clear what organization is responsible for the contents of the page?
- How reputable is the source?
- Who is the author?
- What are the author’s qualifications for writing on the subject?
- Is the information timely?
- Is factual information clearly delineated from opinions or speculation?
- When was the site created?
- When was the site last up-dated?
- Attempt to verify the information using other sources - “hackers” may alter the information on a website.
Find contact and source information
- Does the site contain a phone number or postal address to contact for more information?
- Are the sources for any factual information clearly listed so they can be verified through another source?
Distinguish between advertising, information, and entertainment.
- What are the goals/aims of the Web site?
- Is the information presented with a minimum of bias?
- Is the Web site trying to sell or promote a specific product or service?
- Is the information intended for entertainment?
- If there is advertising on the page, is it clearly differentiated from the informational content?
Developed by: Kentucky Commission for Children with Special Health Care Needs;
MCHB Healthy and Ready to Work Projects; and Shriners Hospitals for Children
Links