Caring For Our Teens

  Boys' Puberty Puberty in boys can begin at any time between the ages of 9 and 15  (The Nemours Foundation, 2020). This is a very special time for little men. The first sign that a boy is developing into a man is growth of the testes and scrotum. These changes are followed by pubic and underarm hair growth, an increase in height, deepening of the voice,  erections and ejaculation, and the appearance of facial hair. The pituitary gland prompts the testes to begin releasing testosterone, the male sex hormone, into the bloodstream. Testosterone causes teenage boys to develop a manly build. This hormone is also responsible for producing sperm. Sperm production makes the male reproductive system capable of fertilizing an egg and fathering a child.   The ability to be a father is a very wonderful and unique gift that God has bestowed upon men. Ejaculation involves the release of semen, which encompasses millions of sperm cells. These sperm have the potential to join with a female egg to

  Girls' Puberty Puberty in girls can begin at any time between ages 7 and 13 (The Nemours Foundation, 2020). This is a very special time for little women. The first sign that a girl is growing into a woman is breast development. This change is eventually followed by pubic and underarm hair growth, sweat production, a growth spurt, and menstruation and ovulation. The pituitary gland prompts the ovaries to begin releasing estrogen, the female sex hormone, into the bloodstream. Estrogen causes teenage girls to develop a womanly figure. Ovulation makes the female reproductive system capable of conceiving, nurturing, and bearing a baby.  The ability to be a mother is a very wonderful and unique gift that God has bestowed upon women. Ovulation involves the release of eggs every month. The eggs are produced in anticipation of being fertilized by sperm. If no fertilization occurs, then the lining of the uterus dissolves and blood and tissue flow out of the uterus. This process is called m

  Teen Health, Safety, &  First Aid/Emergency Care Teenage children have many important needs when it comes to their health and safety. During the adolescent years, youngsters' bodies go through the amazing changes of puberty. The physical changes experienced are unique to boys and girls. Teens often grow at a rapid pace, and therefore require an ample supply of nutrients and calcium each day. In addition, adolescents need a rather different kind of protection and supervision than that of younger children. Adolescence is often a time when children start doing many things on their own; spending time with friends, engaging in recreational activities, and crossing the street and driving (eventually), all without the watchfulness of parents. At the same time, teens do not always judge dangers carefully and may be unaware of them. These factors pose new, specific risks to teenagers. At times, there is inadequate adult supervision and serious accidents and tragedies follow. Frequen

  Caring for Teenage Children I teach and they run away.  I listen and they come.                                         Akiane Kramarik* ​ Adolescent children need compassionate, respectful care just as young children do. Today there seems to be a lack of good care for them, however, considering how many young people suffer from the emotional pain of mental health disorders and die from accidental injuries, drug overdoses, and suicides every year. Surely, the care of older children must be close to God's heart, yet we can be slow to recognize this. We often go along with the stereotypes and assume that all teenagers are moody, obnoxious, and delinquent. At the same time, society encourages teens to be objects of sexual attraction and sadly often exploits them.  If adolescents have been harmed spiritually, emotionally, and physically, it is not always their fault, but perhaps more often the fault of the larger, materialistic society in which we live. What society wants for its you