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What will we do at this visit?
- Check Weight and Height and Blood Pressure.
- Talk about how your family is doing, nutrition, sleep, and safety.
- Answer any questions you have!
- Help your child stay healthy by keeping them up to date with their immunizations.
- The patient will fill out a PHQ-9 and a GAD-7 form to screen for depression and anxiety.
- We will encourage parents/guardians to step out of the room and wait in the waiting room for some portion of the visit to allow your teen to gain experience asking and answering questions confidentially and independently and to allow for some privacy. If your doctor or nurse practitioner has serious concerns about your teen's health or safety, they will work with your child to share these with you.
Will my child need immunizations at this visit?
The recommended immunization schedule protects infants and children by providing immunity early in life, before they come into contact with potentially life-threatening diseases.
View the childhood immunization schedule to see which vaccines your child needs.
Please note that there are age ranges for each vaccine and due to each child's individual medical history, illnesses, missed visits, travel plans, and other factors, your child may need a vaccine early, or to catch-up on missed vaccines at any age! You will discuss any needed immunizations at the time of your visit.
Nutrition and Your Teen:
- Talk with your teen healthy food choices without emphasizing weight. Talk more about what foods TO eat, and less about foods not to eat or restrictions. Talk about eating for energy and stopping when full. Focus on "My Plate" for meals and even snacks (though you don't have to separate everything out, and you do not need a separate dairy serving - dairy is a protein source).
- Talk with your teen about the fact that water is the only drink a body needs. Sports drinks are not usually needed- though can be helpful when a person sweats a lot - even in this instance, most sports drink contain more sugar than is needed.
- Talk about avoiding drinks with high caffeine content.
Your Teen's Sleep:
School, extracurricular activities, worries, and screens can affect sleep. Take a look at our Sleep Resources page for information on typical sleep patterns, strategies, and reassurance. Talk about (and model!) healthy sleep hygiene.
Health and Safety Tips:
- Make regular visits to the dentist!
- It is critical to learn about Drowning Prevention. Please read Water Safety for Teens.
- Talk about Internet Safety and Cell Phone Safety with your teen.
- The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) advises that the safest home for a child is one without guns. The most effective way to prevent unintentional gun injuries, suicide and homicide to children and adolescents, research shows, is the absence of guns from homes and communities. For those who decide to keep a gun, it should be locked and unloaded, with ammunition locked separately.
- Discuss (and model!) safe driving (seat belt use, no distractions, no phone). Consider a Safe Driving Contract for your family from AAA or the CDC. Visit the NH Teen Driver Program and Parent Toolbox for NH Teen Drivers for more information!
- Talk to your child about body changes, body image, hygiene, self-care, healthy sexuality, healthy relationships, and consent. There are many helpful articles at healthychildren.org (see link below). Sex Positive Families is a website with many educational resources.
Ages & Stages - Teen
Read age-specific articles about your child's health, development, and safety at healthychildren.org.
Activities to do with your family:
- Enjoy meals together as a family as often as you can!
- Be active together as a family.
- Concord Pediatrics cares for children to age 22! Adolescence is a good time to start talking with your child about participating in their own health care. Knowing their health history and allergies, what medications they take, and how to check in at an appointment is a good start! Read more at our Transitioning Youth to Adult Health Care page.