Well Visit, Your Teen: Care Instructions
Your relationship with your teen is likely going through a lot of changes. Your teen may want to skip some
family activities and do more on their own. Your love, understanding, and guidance can help your teen make
good decisions.
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Build trust with your teen. Respect their opinions and privacy. Really listen when they want to talk.
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Talk to your teen about healthy friendships. Get to know your teen's friends and their parents.
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Set realistic rules. Talk about what will happen if rules are broken,
and follow through.
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Plan one-on-one time with your teen. Go for long walks or ride bikes,
if you can. Or play games.
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Put limits on screen time. Too much time spent on smartphones or video
games may affect your teen's sleep and healthy eating habits.
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Remind your teen to be careful online. Talk about what's safe and not
safe to share online.
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Be open to talks about sex and relationships. Tell your teen often
that "If you have questions, I'm here for you."
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Talk about gun safety. If you keep guns in your home, lock them up
unloaded. Lock ammunition away from guns.
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Seek out support if you need it. You could find a counselor for you
and your teen. Ask your doctor for a referral.
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Get help if your teen talks about suicide or self-harm. Call the
Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255). Or text HOME to 741741 to
access the Crisis Text Line. Go to 988lifeline.org for more information.
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Make sure your teen gets all the recommended vaccines. Talk to your
teen's doctor if you have questions.
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Follow-up care is a key part of your child's treatment and safety. Be sure to make and go to all
appointments, and call your doctor if your child is having problems. It's also a good idea to know your
child's test results and keep a list of the medicines your child takes.
Current as of: October 24, 2023
Content Version: 14.0
Care instructions adapted under license by your
healthcare professional. If you have questions about a medical condition or this instruction, always ask
your healthcare professional. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of
this information.
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