Page 43 - Silver Lakes_Issue 7_2022

TODAY’S CHILD

eating and sleeping patterns, and emotional
outbursts. Never ignore changing behaviour
in your teenager; being proactive is the only
way to deal with it before it is too late.

#3: Depression
According to the World Health Organisation,
depression is the leading cause of ill health
and disability worldwide. More than 300
million people live with depression, and
this is a growing phenomenon. According to
the South African Depression and Anxiety
Group, in an urban setting, the prevalence
of depression is estimated to be 25.2%
and girls are at higher risk of becoming
depressed.

Time spent on devices is isolating and is time
not being spent on the sports ground or
interacting face-to-face with people. Being child’s weight and address eating habits and your teen may be unwilling to talk.
active through exercising or socialising, early on before they become problematic. Persevere – it could be life-changing for
laughing and engaging with others, helps your child. It is often better to start these
to ward off depression and releases healthy #5: Academic pressures conversations when children are at a young
endorphins. The workload and constant pressure to age and keep the channels open, setting a
score high marks affects our children. foundation for adolescence and beyond.
#4: Obesity Burnout and depression are a direct result.
Obesity is the fastest-growing disease in Even smart children take strain. Their It may be easier to ask a general question so
South Africa. Currently, one in eight children academic record determines whether they as to kickstart a conversation with your child
are obese, and by 2030, the statistic is are accepted into a university and can affect about a subject that’s topical to teenagers.
expected to be one in five children. There their employment opportunities – this, in Ask your child’s opinion on the topic, and
are many contributing factors, such as being an insanely competitive market with an listen to what they have to say. Do not judge
too sedentary; eating convenience meals oversupply of applicants. your child on their opinions or views, and
because we are too busy to cook; feeling don’t criticise them. Stick to your viewpoint
bored, which leads to overeating; making It is easy for our youth to become or perspective and point out that there are
poor lifestyle choices such as drinking too demoralised and feel hopeless about their many sides to any topic.
much alcohol; and poverty – buying the prospects, and parental pressure to perform
wrong foods in bulk because they’re more compounds this. It’s important that you If your teenager shares that they are being
affordable than buying, preparing and support your children from an early age – bullied or that they feel overwhelmed or
eating balanced meals. praise their effort rather than the results, depressed, seek help for them. Generally,
encourage them and offer them moral with teens, you get one opportunity. If
Overweight children are often the target of support and/or extra lessons if need be. they ask for help or they confide in you,
abuse and bullying. They tend to have a low make sure you are there to support them
sense of self-worth and suffer from body Guard against pressurising your children throughout their ordeal and get them the
image issues, which contribute to depression to take the high school subjects you may help they need as soon as possible.
and other mental health conditions. It like or think are best for them but that
goes without saying that these children they don’t have an aptitude for. You may Nothing beats connecting with your teen
experience many health-related issues, be setting them up for failure, and this can in an authentic, open, honest, loving and
which compounds the problem and affects have a major impact on their confidence caring way. Make time for your teenager,
them in other ways. For instance, they can and their ability to succeed. It can result in respect their opinions and don’t ignore
suffer from diabetes and heart disease or depression, or worse. warning signs.
they end up being ostracised by their peers.
These are just some of the many issues Other sources: https://health-e.org.za/2021/03/19/
Surveys have shown that parents associated with this stage of your child’s understanding-the-link-between-poverty-
inequality-and-rising-childhood-obesity/
underestimate their child’s size and development. Raising tough topics with https://www.sadag.org/index.php?option=com_
associated health risks. So, be aware of your your teenager can be uncomfortable content&view=article&id=1877&Itemid=142

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