{Sneak peek: Teens often have a lot of questions about their health, changing hormones, unruly emotions and more. They might be afraid to ask you about these issues but these health books for teens (and tweens) can help prompt some open communication.}
On any given day, my tween son (almost 13) will come home with a variety of questions/topics on his mind. Here’s just a sampling:
- puberty and when will it hit for me? (“I want to get taller, more muscular, etc.”)
- why did the Great Depression begin?
- how to deal with kids who tease? (and when does it cross over to bullying)
- what is my best baseball card worth on eBay?
- are we going to have World War III? (sigh)
- can I have friends over this weekend?
As you can see, the tween/teen years really do straddle that line between childhood and adulthood. While I can’t always answer all these questions completely, I’m grateful that he is still open enough to ask me all sorts of questions.
Related reading: Understanding Cyberbullying: The Kind of Bullying We Can’t See
Although I’m just beginning this journey of teenage parenting, I think open communication must be a key part of getting through it and still having a relationship at the end of it. Keeping those lines of communication open during the tween/teen years, however, can be easier said than done. As research points out (and most parents’ experience validates), the teen years can pose a challenge to open communication. By definition, this stage of development is all about gaining independence from parents in many ways. This can lead tweens and teens to pull away from previous open communication with parents. If you haven’t seen the new movie Turning Red, it’s worth a watch for the perfect illustration of this point.
Health books for teens (that won’t bore them to tears)
Trying to keep communicating with your tween or teen is worth the effort. Although they may seem standoffish, our kids still need us at this age. Studies find that teens who communicate with their parents more are at a lower risk for engaging in delinquent behavior.
Keeping the communication going seems to be the key. Research shows that when parents have open communication with their teens on a regular basis, the teens are less likely to view these discussions as intrusive. This means teens may actually open up and discuss issues of importance instead of brushing off their parents’ attemps at talking.
One sort of “secret” way to foster ongoing communication with teens is through books. Now, I know not every teen is a big reader but most tweens and teens do have questions. I’ve picked out a collection of health books for teens (and tweens) that can be a great starting point for discussion. These cover the gamit of both physical and mental health. Maybe just laying a couple of these around the house might be enough to prompt some interesting discussion with your tween or teen.
Physical health
This puberty book for girls is unique in that it provides not only the medical/health information from professionals but also real-life “my first period” stories from girls all over the U.S. Very approachable but still packed with answers to girls’ questions.
Puberty, of course, is a huge issue for tweens and teens to understand. If you feel uncomfortable or unprepared for discussing this topic with your adolescent, then books can be a great way to start. This one cover the basic information for boys in an approachable comic-style format.
One pet peeve of mine is unhealthy eating habits, especially in teens. I’ve already seen how much peer pressure influences how kids (especially teens) eat. One way to combat this is to help your kids understand healthy eating from a young age, but also empower them to know how to make a few, reasonably healthy meals themselves. Self-sufficiency and healthy eating all in one! This cookbook offers a great way to start on this path–simple recipes that provide great alternatives to frozen pizza and fast food for teens.
Mental health
Although not only targeted toward teens, this book provides an approachable look at many common mental health questions. Written by a licensed therapist, it helps readers learn how to care for their mental health and what to do if they need more help.
If you are familiar with Halloran’s similar book for children, you know her work is great. Practical, usable tips to help teens cope with big emotions, which we know is a skill they can use their whole life.
Tweens and teens have A LOT on their emotional plate during these years. Even if your child hasn’t been officially diagnosed with anxiety or depression, they no-doubt have times of anxiety, stress and low-mood. This book offers teen-friendly tips and skills to empower them to cope with these feelings. Based on a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) model, it offers kids practical ways to manage their emotions in healthy ways. Note: Of course, books are no replacement for a mental health professional if you think your child is experiencing a severe mental health emergency.
If you’ve been around a tween or teen lately you know that social media plays a big role in many of their lives. Helping teens learn to manage this form of media is crucial to their emotional well-being. This books offers practical tips on learning to engage in social media in healthy, not destructive ways.
This is a great concept for a book–growth mindset strategies specifically for girls! We all know that having a growth mindset is a huge asset for kids of all ages but tween/teen girls can face their own challenges when it comes to developing this mindset. Tips to help girls build confidence and a positive mindset about the possibilities for their lives.
Do you know of books for tweens or teens that help them focus on their physical and mental health? List your favorites in the comments!
With a little help from good books, lots of patience and intentional parenting, we can get through these teens years and have a stronger relationship with our kids through the process.
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