Preparing kids for independence and adulthood brings many
challenges for parents — teaching teens to drive, negotiating
later curfews, researching colleges, discussing tough topics, to
name just a few. Among these hurdles is helping teens start
managing their own health care. It can be hard to let go — after
all, mom and dad have been handling the doctors' appointments,
prescriptions, immunizations, and countless other medical
concerns since their kids were born. But it's important to guide
teens toward taking on this responsibility. After all, parents
won't always be around to manage their children's health care —
and in most cases, once their kids become adults, legally they
won't be allowed to. And keep in mind that the decisions made in
the teen years about things like alcohol, drugs, healthy eating,
exercise, sex, and smoking can have long-term consequences —
even if teens feel invincible. Becoming more invested in their
own health care lets teens learn more about and understand the
potential outcomes of