Teenagers

What to do when your children turn into Teenagers

by DR David Bennett & Dr Leanne Rowe

Every parent wonders if they are doing a good job. When their kids become teenagers, they begin to doubt themselves even more. By 16, one in three Australian teenagers has had sex. By 14, one in two drinks alcohol weekly. After car accidents, suicide is the most common cause of teenage death. The statistics are frightening - and even worse if you are the parent of a teenager.

WHAT TO DO WHENYOUR CHILDREN TURN INTO TEENAGERS gives parents answers they desperately need. It covers the key issues that arise with each stage of the teenage years including:

• the physical and emotional highs and lows of puberty
• diet, health and eating disorders
• problems at school and university
• drugs and risk taking
• how to protect your marriage when the children are out of control
• tips for resolving conflicts with your teenagers
• where to go when you need to call in the professionals

The teenage years are the most challenging for any parent, when do you let go and when should you ask questions to make sure your teenagers aren't in trouble.

• Parents worry too much, so I don't talk about my problems to them.
• Why clean up when it'll just get messy again?
• I really need my parents to keep reassuring me they love me but I want to be independent too.
• On a lot of days I feel empty and don't even know what I feel.
• My parents fit all the time. I get really scared they will split up.

'What to do when your children turn into Teenagers' helps bridge the gap. It's stressful being a teenager dealing with the pressure of growing up, but just as stressful being a parent of one, not knowing when and how you can help. I'd recommend this book for anyone looking for an insight into raising teenagers.

About the Author
Dr David Bennett is the Head of the Department of Adolescent Medicine at the Children's Hospital at Westmead and also of the NSW Centre for the Advancement of Adolescent Health. David was appointed Clinical Associate Professor in Adolescent Medicine at the University of Sydney in 1004 and was honoured with an AO in 1995 for service to medicine, particularly in the field of adolescent health and medical care. He is the best-selling author of Growing Pains.

Dr Leanne Rowe is a general practitioner who specializes in adolescent health and parenting and has cared for thousands of different families over the past 20 years. She is the Chair of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (Vic), Senior Lecturer at the Department of General Practice, University of Melbourne a medical officer with the Royal Flying Doctor Service and has just undertaken at Doctor of Medicine degree at Monash University on the topic of adolescent depression. She has published two other books girl x recreated and Urgent.