Raising a teenager is difficult - not a controversial claim for any parent with a child over 12 years old. Too old to baby, but not old enough to be on their own, there are a number of worries that parents have to face.
Here's a list of questions to ask about your teen's health:
1. Should I worry about sexting?
The short answer is probably "yes."
There is a certain school of thought that some experimentation during the teen years is harmless and natural. This might be true, but there are indications that fantasies captured on a phone can have real-life consequences.
Teens who send sexually oriented texts, or sexts, may experience a greater likelihood of engaging in sexual activity, according to a recent study.
Check out more details here.
2. Is my teen sleeping too much?
Well, maybe. But long hours of sleep are common during the teen-age years and some educators are changing their schedules accordingly. More schools around the country are considering later start times for teenagers.
3. Should I push my kids to exercise more?
If your kid is overweight or in need of a healthier lifestyle, exercise may be a good solution. But some of the other benefits of exercise may have been overstated. One recent study showed that more athletic activity might not help teen depression, as some have suggested.
4. Are you too worried about drinking and marijuana?
Of course, this is the stereotypical concern of most parents of teenagers: is my kid getting into drugs and alcohol? But you may not be giving your kid enough credit.
A recent study shows that teen marijuana use may be decreasing nationwide.
5. But is MY teen's drinking going to be a problem?
It might be that science can help answer this exact question. A new test may be able to accurately predict which teens are at risk to become binge drinkers.
6. Is my teen being affected by all the video games he or she is playing?
It remains an open question whether or not large amounts of time spent playing video games is a good thing. Still, there are signs that playing games has an overall impact on the teens who play them.
Too much time spent playing video games has been linked to aggressive and addictive behaviors in teens, according to new research.
7. Is my kid getting too much sun?
This might be a long-term problem that is far down on a parent's priority list (especially compared to sex, drugs and healthy living). But it is something to think about.
A recent study showed that fewer teens are using sunscreen, which could lead to long-term skin problems.
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April 24, 2026 15:15 ET Economics news flow was relatively light this week even as the conflict in the Middle East continued, raising concerns for policymakers. In the U.S., spending data, initial jobless claims and pending home sales were the highlights. Business confidence in the biggest euro area economy was in focus in Europe. Inflation data from Japan gained attention in Asia.