Teaching healthy lifestyles to teenagers - what do you want your kids to know?

findingmyownway

Good suggestions so far, particularly the one about budgeting and money. So many kids think they can just move out and get a nice flat, letting them see they need the skills to get a good job / earn money / spend it wisely would be good.

Also, rather than focussing on the negatives of what they shouldn't do (drink, drugs, underage se x etc etc), how about a session on some positive ideas on how to spend their time? Studying is the obvious one, but maybe get some local young entrepeneurs in to speak to them about starting a business? a successful blogger? charity work / volunteering? work experience? sports? making crafty things to sell online? etc etc

trolleyrun

Staying safe in the sun and the dangers of sun beds might be another topic to talk about?

I very much agree with others in regards to talking about self-respect and confidence. I think this might be a topic to spend the most time on. May I suggest you look up Nick Vujicic on YouTube? He is very inspirational and has a fantastic way of talking to teenagers that makes them sit up and listen.

VJsmum

How about something to do with image? That they don't need £100 Jac4 W!lls tops or Holl!ster stuff to look and feel good about themselves. THat looks really aren't everything and you don't have to follow the pack?

NoAngel

Maybe this is something people's parents tell them about, but I found it useful to learn the basics of the economy and politics at that age. Nothing in too much depth, but explaining what the government does, the main parties and what tax money goes on. Gives people some perspective of their country and appreciative of what is provided by our tax money. If you have parents who don't discuss this sort of thing it could be really useful.

lostinrates

NoAngel wrote: »

Maybe this is something people's parents tell them about, but I found it useful to learn the basics of the economy and politics at that age. Nothing in too much depth, but explaining what the government does, the main parties and what tax money goes on. Gives people some perspective of their country and appreciative of what is provided by our tax money. If you have parents who don't discuss this sort of thing it could be really useful.

This is such a good idea.

When I was at school, and again later at college, we did multiple choice questionnaires outlining policy and not who made them, and it was interesting to see who was challenged because they said they supoorted a particular party, but really, on blind testing, their views were almost opposite!

raffe

I wouldn't do anything that you don't have proper knowledge of, unless your going to get guest speakers in.

Fire_Fox

Do you know what all the government healthy living guidelines are for the age group? Healthy eating is a lot more than vegetables, most adult clients I see don't know all the guidelines let alone follow them. Nobody seems to have mentioned physical activity, arguably strength training exercises are relevant to young girls - great for bone health, 'toning'/ slimming without weight loss and won't make them 'bulky'. Unless you are suitably qualified you have to be careful what advice or guidance you give on nutrition and exercise.
http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_4080994
http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/fitness/Pages/physical-activity-guidelines-for-young-people.aspx

ETA: As a lifestyle healthcare professional, if there is one thing I would like to teach EVERYONE about health it is how to distinguish between a good source of information and a poor source. Many teens are reading about restrictive and even dangerous dietary practices in glossy magazines, online and commercial diet books. Appreciate they are young but I'd love them to be able to go right to the NHS, BBC, charity or other unbiased plain English websites for information on health, fitness and weight management.

tyllwyd

My 13 year old was grumping the other day that schools kept going on about drugs and smoking but they knew all that already, and what they really needed was advice on things like depression and self-harm.

And as a mum, I think I'd like her to receive a bit of advice on obsession (specifically internet obsession ;-) ) and the danger signs that something is becoming too important in your life.

If you are covering internet safety, rather than talking about the dangers of Facebook, I'd talk about recognising that nothing you post online, or email or text, is guaranteed to be private - for example if you gossip about a friend online, there is every chance that someone will show her the conversation, or an embarassing photo might get forwarded or show up again years later.

Fire_Fox

If you are teaching about mental health IMO be guided by the charities
http://www.youngminds.org.uk/
http://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/help-information/mental-health-a-z/C/children-young-people/
http://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/publications/young-people-mh-problems/
http://www.mind.org.uk/help/people_groups_and_communities/children_and_young_people
http://teenmentalhealth.org/

kettlefish

How about covering sleep hygiene? Around 1 in 5 people suffer from poor sleep and insomnia. Patient.co.uk is a good resource to start from.