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The teenage years are often turbulent ones. Changes that begin in the preteen find full-blown expression in the adolescent. Girls develop earlier than boys. They begin at age 11 or 12 with budding of the breasts. The development of hair growth in the pubic and axillary region is next. This is followed by other secondary sex characteristics. The growth in height, as well as a developing feminine body is precursory to the actual time of menarche. This date marks the beginning of menstruation. It has been arriving earlier in girls in Western cultures. In comparison with many Orientals, who begin menstruating at age 15 or 16, the average American girl menstruates at 12 years. I believe this to be related to the increased protein (especially meat, containing steroid hormones) in the Western diet, as well as the general acceleration of maturity that popular education and entertainment seems to foster.

Associated with these changes, a growing preoccupation with “the boys” often transpires. Wise parents will seek as long as possible to preserve the simple loyalties of childhood in their young teenagers and foster family activities, parental togetherness, and close supervision of sports and recreation. Interest in studies and home duties are a great safeguard against the moral depravity and unhealthful practices creeping into high schools, colleges, and universities—even Christian ones.

Young men mature a year or two later than their feminine counterparts. The growth spurt usually begins around 13 to 15 years of age, but occasionally comes even later. Sometimes a young boy will grow 2 to 4 inches in one year! The voice changes with a humorous (to others) break of pitch (called falsetto) right during mid sentence. It becomes quite embarrassing to the awkward earliteen.

Muscular development, strength and athletic ability, as well as other secondary sexual characteristics (whiskers and beard) are a frequent source of pride, tempting many youth to “show off.” Tendencies to hazardous driving practices, risky athletics, daredevil stunts, and excessive play should be discouraged by serious parents, who really want their bright star to shine some day. A part-time job, household chores, and encouragement in study and spiritual growth can be fostered in a close-knit family setting.

If it becomes necessary for young boys or girls to leave home and live in a school dormitory, their roommates and close associates should be chosen with care. With drug abuse and sexual permissiveness becoming increasingly common, any serious devoted parents should spare no pains to bring their young people up in the “nurture and admonition of the Lord.” The rewards to youth, as well as to society are compelling indeed.

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A baby in the hospital feels keenly the mother’ s absence. The unfamiliar surroundings, combined with procedures that may be painful, create constant fear and apprehension. The taking of blood samples, preparation for surgery, dressing changes, or confinement in cribs or mist tents all elicit emotional responses hard to define. It is not unusual for a child, hospitalized the first time, to regress in his or her toilet habits, eating preferences, and dependencies. If possible, it is best for a parent, usually the mother, to stay with her child during the period of hospitalization. When a rooming-in arrangement can be secured, the hospital stay can be made as pleasant as possible with stories, puzzles, games, and most important, the presence of someone who loves him or her most.

Surgery presents another challenge to the child. Lacking complete understanding of the exact reasons for and techniques of the contemplated procedure, a child often develops fantasies and fears that are difficult to understand. Drawings or dolls can be used to illustrate the anticipated surgery, providing support and understanding to lessen the child’ s fear. Spiritual resources available to parents and children at times like this help also to allay any fear of disfigurement, pain, or death that often accompanies entrance into the hospital. A frank discussion by the physician or surgeon, as well as the nursing team, is of great significance to inspire trust and confidence.

Postoperative convalescence can be hastened with the presence of parents and familiar objects from home. Stuffed animals, favorite toys, or pictures can be brought to make the hospital room seem as much as possible like the child’s household domain. Unless contraindicated by the nature of the illness, some catering in regard to favorite foods will assist the rapid return of appetite. Do everything possible to facilitate the cheerful adjustment to the strangeness of hospital routine. As much as possible rest at night should be undisturbed. Too many visitors and flowers should be discouraged. As soon as feasible, resume normal activities with return to school. It will likely bring the transient emotional changes to an end, as health is restored.

Any child with a terminal illness presents the greatest challenge. Youngsters with leukemia, malignant cancers, or advanced cardiac disease often “understand” better than the parents do. Many become willing to discuss the approach of a fatal outcome. At such times, it is exceptionally important to discuss the future in a candid, yet sympathetic way. Spiritual support and a strong trust in God, with continued presence of devoted parents, will ease the approaching pain of separation, while clasping to a hope of future reunion should final “farewells” be required.

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Headache is a symptom common to school-age children. Although not a disease itself, this symptom warrants investigation and, when possible, removing all known causes. Most headache in childhood are related to tension, often reflecting pressures at school, interpersonal conflicts at home, or deep inner security and its need for expression. A warm sympathetic attitude on the part of parents is important to win the confidence of children. When security is lacking in the home, youth usually turn to their peer groups, whose advice is often unreliable.

De-emphasize the “miracle drug” approach to pain relief before your children. Parents themselves can set the example, analyzing rationally and treating physiologically their own health annoyances as they occur. Extra water intake, hot tub baths, and “early to bed and early to rise” are habits that can quickly remove the headache. The pain is then soon forgotten. The hot foot bath is helpful. More importantly, a firm trust in God through a personal experience in prayer can prepare the child for the “vicissitudes of life,” developing in him or her a headache-resistant personality.

Since vision is critical for normal learning in the child, any pain in the eyes demands immediate attention. Eyestrain is a common cause for headache. It has been increasingly associated with the early exposure of a child to reading when his constitution is not yet ready for the challenge. Many children who wear glasses can trace their nearsightedness back to the early reading classes that should have been postponed until age 8 or 10. Contemporary urgency to send Johnny off to school at age 4 or 5 for a “head start” program, followed by kindergarten, then the competition of the first grades only invite problems of emotional adjustment, premature eyestrain, and physical symptoms. Most can be avoided by delayed entrance into school.

Infections of the eye are not uncommon in childhood. Some newborns have a discharge from their eyes. It is traced to injury or rubbing of the eyes, and the introduction of antibiotics or silver nitrate drops required by the public health departments to prevent newborn gonorrhea. This material can be removed from the eyes with a warm soft washcloth. If excessive, hot saline compresses several times a day will clear the condition quickly. Make them using one half teaspoon of table salt in an eight ounce glass of hot water. Zinc sulfate (0.2%) drops, although innocuous to the baby’ s eyes, will help to clear this conjunctivitis when it is resistant to the above measures.

Pink eye in childhood is quite contagious. It is usually caused by a Hemophilus organism.The childhood conjunctivitis can be spread from one eye to the other, and to other children by rubbing the irritated part with the hands. careful hand washing, combined with frequent hot saline compresses, or the use of a charcoal poultice placed over the eyes will clear the infection in its early stages without requiring antibiotics. Avoid undue irritation in order for these simple remedies to do their best job.

Finally, let us consider the foot problems of children. Many infants are born with a tendency for the toes to point in or out. Sometimes this appears as an inward curving of the foot itself (called metatarsus valgus). This usually requires corrective shoes. Some infant’ s feet can straighten with normal growth, while the parents reverse the left and right shoes on the feet, doing this each day for several months.

The night splint, which maintains the child’ s feet in shoes at a prescribed angle, can be used to correct unusual outward pointing of the feet. This must be worn for several months in order to be effective. Pigeon-toed children are usually treated with a Thomas heel, which provides a slight inner wedge to direct the foot outward, placed on the shoe when walking begins. From one to two years of age, this special orthopedic heel can help to straighten the gait and enable running to develop smoothly later on, “Bow legs” and “knock knees” in children are usually self-correcting and only rarely require orthopedic evaluation.

The most serious foot deformity is the clubfoot (called talipes equinovarus). It usually requires a series of corrective casts or surgical procedures to straighten the feet and enable gait training to proceed normally.
An orthopedist should be consulted.

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Occasionally, the pediatrician will see a child who simply refuses to move his or her bowels. Usually this is a psychological problem. Obstipation, as it is called, could accompany a difficult toilet training process, in which punitive measures or ridicule were used to reinforce the parent’s desires. A carefully performed rectal exam with the little finger will help to rule out the presence of a congenital obstruction. Further examination with a sigmoidoscope or a barium enema x-ray may be needed to exclude a congenital deformity or acute disease. Proper toilet training may then begin in a relaxed way. Rarely, stool softeners are necessary to increase the ease of elimination. Psyllium seed, flax seed, and bran, all provide a natural lubrication and softening. Most of these items are available at a pharmacy or supermarket.

Regularity of bowel function is very important. After a meal, such as breakfast or dinner, the urge is often present and should be responded to promptly. The toilet training atmosphere must be relaxed and private, with punitive measures studiously avoided. Difficult cases may require medical counsel. The earlier this problem can be solved the healthier teen and later years will be, for the bowel habits of childhood tend to perpetuate themselves into adult life.

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It is well said that “thoughts lead to actions; actions repeated form habits; and habits determine character.” Many actions are repeated during childhood, some good, others detrimental, Some of the more common habits creating concern in parents will be discussed here.

Thumb sucking is one of the commonest habits of early infancy. It is thought to be normal by some psychologists. This habit often indicates a need for oral gratification and contact with something human. The early months of life does no harm, if the hands are clean. Thumb sucking prolonged into later childhood and school years is a source of embarrassment, as the peer group makes fun of any child so habituated. Dental development is additionally affected, with the tendency toward protrusion of the incisors (buck teeth). Security gained in other ways, with a gentle education away from the habit is generally able to “wean” the reasonable child.

Bed wetting or enuresis is another distressing problem, particularly to school-age children. When this habit is prolonged after age three it deserves gentle but corrective measures. Usually there is no anatomic problem in the urinary tract. Stress factors and psychic tensions appear to be the commonest underlying cause, Inner security combined with an avoidance of undue attention will bring help to most of those affected. The use of antidepressant drugs or stimulants should be positively avoided.

Restrict fluids at bedtime, with rewards such as stars on a calendar for dry nights, may provide the motivation for mild cases. Avoid shaming the child or drawing undue attention to his or her failures by corporal punishment. Electrical devices are available for some difficult cases, but are not universally successful. Usually the problem subsides spontaneously. Some children have found that sleeping on a very hard bed or even on the floor aids in the bedwetting situation when excessively deep sleep is a factor. If persevering efforts are unsuccessful by age six to eight, a physician should be consulted to thoroughly test for anatomic disease.

Stammering or stuttering is very common in the school-age child. Occasionally this results from starting the child to school too early. It may be eliminated by keeping the youngster at home another year or two. The pressure and tensions of the schoolroom may be an inciting factor. Usually thought to be a nervous habit, stuttering is amenable to speech correction when the therapist is a calm, supportive, understanding person. Patience on the part of parents and gentle nonpunitive correction of the speech disorder will usually succeed in retrained speech.

Genital exploration is not uncommon among small children. The attempt to understand their anatomy should be of no concern to parents when it is seen casually in very young children. Boys and girls early in life notice the difference between themselves. Sexual identity should be established at an early age. The wearing of different clothes for boys and girls—such as, pants vs. dresses, helps to establish this identity and aids the development of male or female personality in a healthful direction.

Persistence in the manipulation of the genital organs or habitual stimulation is defined as masturbation. Sometimes called self abuse, this habit has been linked by many health writers to long-term health problems. Just as all violations of natural law have their penalties, the unnatural habit of masturbation will affect greatly the developing personality. Promoting sexual desire, including in some the tendency toward homosexuality, the effects of this practice are pernicious. Those who continue the practice during adolescence often develop a habit pattern, which is almost impossible to break.

The most current explanation of these health hazards involves zinc metabolism. Of all body fluids, semen is the richest in zinc. The prostate gland secretes a fluid that is high in this trace mineral. With frequent sexual stimulation, whether masturbation or another sensual activity, there is rapid loss of body zinc stores, approximately what can be absorbed from the intestines in one day! When the dietary zinc is marginal, and true zinc deficiency results, many health problems develop, including impotence. Dr. Carl C. Pfeiffer Ph.D., M.D. went even farther to state in his book Zinc and Other Micro -Nutrients, “We hate to say it, but in a zinc-deficient adolescent, sexual excitement and excessive masturbation might precipitate insanity.”

It is our clinical impression that adolescents, who have continued with frequent habitual self abuse, may set the stage for diseases later in life. The immune system is especially impaired. Infections of the liver and lungs, neuralgia, rheumatism, diseased kidneys, and even cancerous conditions can possibly be traced back to the unconquered habit of masturbation. Mental depression and complete breakdowns are not uncommonly seen in these patients.

For the child caught in the grip of this self indulgence there is still a ray of hope. Hard physical labor and closer contact with parents is a substantial aid to the child struggling to conquer the habit of self abuse. A nonstimulating diet, avoiding spices, caffeinated beverages, a high intake of sugar, and even meat and eggs will aid the child in recovery. He must shun all fantasy on lustful themes portrayed in popular magazines, television, and theater to help in developing a pure mind that is invaluable to health of the body. Cold sitz baths and the avoidance of much time in the hot showers may also help. Perineal hygiene is essential. Spiritual counseling should not be neglected.

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