® What we did: We created a book called Off the Chain with useful information on everyday life stuff for teens. Full of straight- up life lessons and facts, Off the Chain serves as an easy and quick reference for getting up to speed on a variety of practical matters. What you do: Use this special Proactive Parents/Guardians Guide to Off the Chain for helpful ways to teach your teen about the subjects in the book. You probably know your teen better than anyone, so take this information and apply it to best meet your teaching/parenting needs. DISCLAIMER. This book provides general information about various teen-related issues. This information is not intended to be used as a solitary reference on the subject matter, for the diagnosis or treatment of a health problem, or as a substitute for consulting a licensed healthcare professional. Consult with a qualified healthcare practitioner to discuss specific individual issues of health needs, and to professionally address personal, emotional, health, physical or medical concerns. ® Table of Contents 2) Driving 4) Chatting and Texting 6) Menstruation 8) Pregnancy ® 10) Dating 12) Male Health 14) Birth Control and STDs 16) Domestic Violence 18) Self-Esteem 20) Drugs 23) Diet 26) Personal Hygiene and Grooming 28) Exercise 31) Smoking 33) Bullying 34) Money and Finances 36) Washing Clothes 37) Buying a Car 38) Cooking and Cleaning From a Toddle to the Two-Lane It’s hard to believe. One day they’re taking their first steps and the next, you’re watching them drive down the street to their senior prom. Time flies. But this section of Off the Chain aims to put the brakes on and arm your teenagers with quality driving tips and advice, before they leave you in the dust. Realities of the Road Here are some sobering stats to impress upon your new driver: About nine teenagers die from car accidents EVERY DAY. Driving fatalities are the leading cause of death for teens. Teens are just as likely to have accidents from 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. weekdays as they are on weekend nights. Percentage of fatal accidents caused by primary collision factors for teens 16-19. Unsafe speed 35.3% Right-of-way 20.6% Improper turns 14.8% Sign/Signal 8.1% Alcohol/Drugs 5.1% Passing/Lane Change 4.3% Source: California Wrong Side of the Road 3.1% Department of Motor Other 8.7% Vehicles 2 The “Other” in this graph (8.7% fatalities) is most likely due to cell phone usage. Distracted talking and texting is rapidly becoming a major threat to driving safety. Seat Belts = Saved Lives Seat belts save money, time and lives. They help you: Get where you’re going on time Save money by avoiding traffic tickets Prevent disabling injuries Stay alive Every 15 seconds, someone is injured in a traffic crash. Buckle up! More Realities Off the Chain tries to alert teens to the other safety considerations they may not have known. Driving costs money. $ Car payments $ Auto insurance $ Gas $ Oil changes & repairs $ License fees Driving is a privilege. Help your teen understand the responsibilities, rules and realities. MetLife offers the free brochure “Teaching Your Teen to Drive” at www.teendriving.com/MetLife teaching Teens to Drive.pdf Seat belt laws by state: www.ghsa.org/html/stateinfo/laws/seatbelt_laws.html www.teendriving.com 3 (Rolling on the floor laughing) NO ROTFLMATTER Chatting and Texting Safety Operator, Can You Help Me Place a Call? Electronic communication has come a long way. Where a slow-moving piece of mail or a telephone call was, we now have instant messages, text messages, e-mail and cell phones wherever we go. But with that kind of instant communication come dangers and concerns about which our teens should be aware. There are predators lurking, people who aren’t who they say they are, waiting to take advantage of young technology users. Never Text and Drive Never text and drive. Ever. It’s dangerous for adults as well as kids. So. Never text and drive. Ever. A Web of Danger Teens need to be aware of these warning signs of online predators: WARNING SIGNS OF A PREDATOR Relationship goes quickly from a chat room to face to face meeting. Strangers who seem to understand your problems and take your side to gain trust. Want to keep anything sexual “our little secret.” Teens need to know that if they transmit sexual content over the web, it could be considered producing and distributing child pornography. They could get themselves into a situation that could affect their future. Being labeled as a Sex Offender can stay with them for the rest of their lives. 4 Chat Room Safety tips 1. Careful what you type! Things you say can be permanent. 2. Never tell strangers your name, address, phone number or other personal info. 3. Don’t tell anyone your real location or where you’re going to hang out. 4. Don’t meet up in person with online strangers. 5. Don’t use your real name when chatting with strangers. 6. Don’t pick a nickname that’s sexually suggestive. 7. Block people who say things that make you feel uncomfortable and don’t reply to them. 8. Sign out if the chat turns to sex. This can become dangerous. Internet safety for teens: www.safeteens.com/chat-room-safety Texting: kidshealth.org/teen/safety/driving/texting.html 5 NOTHING WRONG WITH CHANGE. PERIOD. A Period of Change It can be a difficult and confusing time in the life of a girl whose body is beginning to go through the changes of puberty. Menstruation is one of those challenges. It’s important to let her know that this process is normal, expected and necessary for growing up and becoming a woman. A Dialogue with Your Daughter YOU: You’re at the age when your body is going to start changing. HER: Like what? YOU: Each month, a woman’s ovaries produce a tiny egg that travels to the uterus. That’s called ovulation. HER: Okay. YOU: If that egg isn’t fertilized, the walls of the uterus shed off. During that time there will be bleeding from the vagina while that wall sheds off. HER: Uh…really? YOU: This is called a period. It usually starts out with spots of blood, gets heavier and lighter throughout those days. It lasts for about three to seven days. Then the whole process repeats itself about every 28 days. HER: It sounds kinda creepy. YOU: It isn’t. And every woman experiences it. It’s all a part of how a woman’s body prepares to have a baby. HER: But I’m not ready to have a baby! YOU: Me either. 6 TAMPONS VS. PADS Teach your daughter how to deal with her period by determining which product is best for her. TAMPONS PADS Absorb blood while inserted Stick to underwear and inside the vagina. absorb blood when it leaves the vagina. Include an applicator that helps you insert the tampon Come in different into the vagina. thicknesses for heavier or lighter flow. Won’t get lost or move around in your body. Must be changed when they become soaked. Need to be changed every four to eight hours. Include an attached string for removal. Come in different sizes, depending on flow. DEALING WITH PMS Premenstrual Syndrome is a normal condition. She may experience these symptoms before her period: Mood swings, tender or swollen breasts, belly aches and cramping, bloating around the belly. Help her during these times by making sure she stays away from sugars, fats and salty foods, avoids caffeine, sleeps, exercises lightly and avoids stress. The Mayo Clinic’s Preparing Your Preteen for Her Period: www.mayoclinic.com/health/menstruation/FL00040 Period Products: www.period-products.com 7 THE BULGING FACTS ABOUT PREGNANCY SEX = a man inserts his erect (hard) penis into a woman’s vagina. Sheet Smarts Being open and honest with your teen may be the best thing. Knowledge is power, and arming him or her with the “sheet smarts” could save or at least change lives. Back to Basics sperm egg baby It’s important for your teen to know that pregnancy occurs when sperm from a man joins with an egg from a woman, which happens during sex. If you have sex, you can become or get somebody pregnant. Life- changing stuff. Make sure your teen knows the significance of this and the impact it’ll have on everyone. Talk It Up According to the Centers for Disease Control, parents have a strong impact on whether a teenager makes healthy decisions. This applies to sex, as well. Research shows that teens who talk with their parents about sex, relationships, birth control and pregnancy— Begin to have sex at a later age Use condoms and birth control more often if they do have sex Have better communication with romantic partners Have sex less often 8 Spread the Word ( Not the STDs) That same communication you value also applies to your teens and their partners. It’s crucial that they discuss their plans for intimacy and not take the topic lightly. TALKING ABOUT SEX FIRST IS IMPORTANT… for your mind and body. for understanding birth control. for preventing sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). for preventing unwanted pregnancy. for seeing if you’re really ready. REMEMBER ► The best way NOT to GET PREGNANT is NOT to HAVE SEX. Make sure your teen understands that point. The CDC’s Parent & Guardian Resources on Teen Pregnancy: www.cdc.gov/teenpregnancy/Parents.htm Web MD: Talking with Your Child about Sex: www.webmd.com/parenting/tc/talking-with-your-teenager-about-sex-topic- overview 9 Relationship Five Truths to know about teen dating 1 ) Teens don’t know much about dating.