Articles for families with teens

Our teen wellness articles offer practical advice for parents and caregivers of teens in junior or senior high school (grades 7-12).

Schools and school authorities are welcome to share these articles with parents in newsletters, bulletin boards, and other communications.

We've organized our library of articles by topic below:

Mental health

Kindness builders for teens

For teens going through the ups and downs of life, being kind isn’t just a nice thing to do—it’s a powerful tool for self-growth and success. From boosting mental health to improving relationships and learning in schools, there are lots of benefits in kindness. Explore these 7 simple ways to build kindness and compassion in your teen.

Slumber success: Tips for teens to improve sleep

Teenagers lead busy lives and because of this whirlwind, getting enough quality sleep often takes a backseat. Sleep is important for teens because it improves memory, emotional regulation, physical growth, brain development, and focus. Here are some helpful tips for your teen and your whole family to get a good night’s sleep.

How to help your teen manage emotions

Teens experience a lot of change, both physically and emotionally, and it's important to support them in emotional regulation—how to manage and control their emotions in a healthy way. There are lots of ways you can help your teen learn to regulate their emotions. Here are a few ideas to get you started.

Stand up to bullying: Tips for families with teens

Bullying is never okay. It’s not a normal part of growing up. As a parent or caregiver, you play an important role in helping to prevent and address bullying. Here’s what you can do.

Supporting your teen in the digital world

Empower your teen use digital devices responsibly and safely, and in ways that support their overall well-being. Here’s what you can do.

Help your teen connect with nature for better mental health

Research confirms that when young people spend time outside, they’re able to handle stress and tend to have better moods. Let’s explore some ways to spark your teen’s connection with nature.

Talking teen romance

Teen romance has its ups and downs. Here are some practical tips to support your teen through their first romantic journey.

Resolutions: The growth mindset way

Making resolutions is easy but sticking to them can be hard. Try these tips to help your teen set goals with a growth mindset.

The SEL advantage: 10 tips to support teens

Social emotional learning (SEL) is about learning everyday skills to handle emotions, cope with stress, interact with others, and solve problems. SEL isn't just for young kids. Try these 10 ideas to support your teen's SEL journey.

Engaging with your teen's school experience

As your teen moves through the junior and senior high school years, your involvement in their school community shows them that you value and care about their education. Here's how to support your teen’s school journey.

Just be there

The day-to-day relationship you have with your teen matters. Your support nurtures their well being, and you play a key role in noticing problems and responding to them. These tips can help you be there for your teen.

Show yourself some love

As a parent or caregiver, remember that your mental health matters just as much as anyone else’s. It’s important to find ways to balance caring for yourself and caring for your teen. These strategies can help.

How to help your teen with school changes

Back-to-school changes can be intimidating. Teens like to know what to expect, so it’s natural for them to be curious (and even worried) about what the school year will look like. Your support will help them feel confident, capable, and secure.

Nutrition

A healthy relationship with food: What it means for your teen

You play an important role in shaping what your teen thinks about food, how they talk about it, and how they enjoy it. Try these tips to help your teen build a healthy relationship with food.

Back-to-school lunch hacks for your teen

With back-to-school season in full swing, making school lunches is back on the agenda. With a little planning and creativity, packing school lunches can be a lot less daunting and can even help your family save money.

Food marketing and your teen

Food marketing is incredibly powerful. It can influence the food and drinks teens ask for, buy, choose, and consume. Help your teen stand up to food marketing with these tips.

Oral health

Sugar buzz: Protect your teen's teeth

April is Oral Health month in Canada. It’s a great time to brush up on what it means for your teen to have a healthy mouth.

Physical activity

How to help teens sweat, step, sit less, and sleep better

Talk together about how your teen will sweat, step, sit less, and sleep for good health in 2024! The 24-hour Movement Guidelines for Children and Youth can help start the conversation.

Bike, walk, roll: Active travel tips for your teen

As your teen gets set for another school year, keep them moving with active travel—human-powered ways of going from one place to another.

Do something different: Multisport and teens

More than ever, researchers, medical experts, coaches, and top athletes are rallying behind multisport. Let’s explore five key reasons for multisport and how you can support teens.

Get set for adventure: Physical literacy and your teen

Physical literacy is a person’s motivation, confidence, physical competence, knowledge and understanding to value and take responsibility for engaging in physical activity for life. Learn more here!

Be an influencer: How to get your teen moving

Though it may not always seem like it, teens notice and care about what adults say and do. This is especially true when it comes to physical activity. Read on for tips to influence your teen's physical activity.

Cold weather life hacks

Winter weather is a reality in Alberta, so braving the elements is an essential life skill for teens. It can be tough to venture out in the face of cold, wind, snow, and ice—but it’s important! Use these tips to help your teen and family stay active as temperatures drop.

Sexual health

Start the conversation: Tips for talking with teens about Pride

June is Pride Month, a celebration of the strength, resilience, and vibrance of 2SLGBTQI+ communities. It’s an ideal time to talk with your teen about the history, meaning, and importance of Pride.

Consent and your teen

Consent is giving permission for something to happen, like an agreement to do something. When teens learn about and understand consent, it helps them develop better relationships with family, friends, peers, and romantic partners.

Take pride in your words

Get to know words and phrases related to gender and sexual identity. You'll feel more comfortable and confident talking with your teen, and may have more open and honest conversations.

Tobacco and vaping

4 ways to help your teen handing vaping

As a parent or caregiver, you play an important role in shaping your teen's knowledge, beliefs, and choices around vaping. What you say and do matters. Let's explore 4 practical ways you can help your teen handle vaping.

Vaping and teens: Your questions, answered.

Vaping rates have surged among young people recently. In this edition, we’ll answer common questions about vaping and offer tips for fact-based, meaningful conversations to support teens.