Help Your Teen Be Independent in the Doctor’s Office
If you have a son or a teenage daughter, you have been following the same routine for more than ten years: take them to the doctor, complete all the paperwork, answer his questions and ask your own. But as your child grows up, he needs to learn to take on this job. It’s time to get off track.
According to a survey conducted by CS Mott Children’s Hospital, two-thirds of parents complete their teen’s medical history and stay with him in the ward for the entire visit. Some parents said that their son or teenage daughter would be uncomfortable talking about health issues, so they don’t bother including their child in those conversations.
But adolescents often grow up earlier than their parents realize. They may already have concerns that they feel uncomfortable discussing in front of their parents. The fact that they are embarrassed to talk about, say, sex (or that they think you’ll be ashamed to hear it) is not a good reason to stop them from getting medical advice about this.
While they are still young, you can give the teenagers a few minutes to ask questions alone. By the time they get older, they should be able to handle the entire visit on their own. Opinion polls suggest several other ways to encourage independence:
Parents can follow several strategies to promote their adolescents’ health independence. Before an appointment, parents may advise the teen to write down any health problems or questions they have. Upon arrival, the teenager can check in at the front desk and fill out any forms, and in case of questions, the parent will be available as a backup. During the visit, parents can wait to talk, giving the teen the opportunity to describe any concerns or questions. Early opportunities to acquire skills and confidence in the presence of a parent for mentoring will pave the way for adolescents to navigate the health care system as they become adults.
After all, these teenagers will soon be on their own, and they will be able to take good care of themselves even without the helicopter hovering.
Disclaimer: Are parents hindering adolescent health independence? | CS Mott Children’s Hospital via Reuters
Photo by Amanda Mills .
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