14 years to 18 years

Focus on: Confidence and happiness
Poised at the juncture between adolescence and adulthood, teenagers face a barrage of decisions and life choices—from where to apply for college to whom to date and hang out with—that can leave them feeling elated one moment and stressed out or blue the next. In the midst of all of these changes, help her develop confidence, self-esteem, kindness, and other positive character traits.

Provide acceptancecial to helping her to develop confidence and a positive self-image, says Luanne Southern, MSW, senior director o and unconditional love. Every person carries her own strengths and challenges, and accepting these in your child is cruf prevention and children's mental health services at the National Mental Health Association. "Praise your child for what she does well, and focus on her strengths—this will go a long way in helping her to excel in the world."

Practice positive discipline. Just like younger children, teenagers need boundaries and rules. "But when a rule is broken, don't be a harsh disciplinarian," Southern says. "Positive discipline means providing your children with guidance and expectations without belittling, harming, or rejecting them." For example, when you set a curfew, let your teen know what the consequences will be if she breaks the rules, and back up your expectations with action. But continue to express love and support throughout the process, Southern says.

Be the example. As children get older, friends and people outside their families become more influential. But parents still play an important role in guiding their teenagers' behavior. "Model the behavior that you want your child to display," Southern says. "If you tell him it is not OK to yell at or belittle someone but then you do that, it sends a confusing message."

Spend time together. Family time is as important for teenagers as it is for younger kids—even though teens may grumble a bit more about having to hang out with Mom and Dad, Southern says. "Your child needs you just as much, if not more, during this time in her life, and you can't know what is going on if you don't spend time with her." Along with making dinner a family event at least a few nights a week, Southern recommends finding other activities that your whole brood can enjoy, such as hiking, biking, or going to the beach.

Watch for depression. The third-leading cause of death among 15- to 24-year-olds in the United States is suicide. It's a scary statistic, but one that parents of teens cannot ignore, Southern says. "Depression is a real illness, just like diabetes or asthma—but it is treatable and you can recover from it." The first step in treating depression is recognizing its symptoms, which include persistent sadness, withdrawal from family or friends, loss of interest in school or other activities, changes in eating habits, sleep problems, and increased irritability or agitation. If your child is diagnosed with depression, work with your doctor to provide him with the talk therapy and other treatments he needs.

Keep skin healthy. Blemishes and other skin irritations can make anyone feel self -conscious—especially a teenager. To treat a pimple quickly without drying out the skin, mix bentonite clay with water and apply directly to the affected area for ten minutes at least twice a day. Studies have shown that tea tree oil is also a good natural antiseptic and skin healer ( Journal of Applied Microbiology , 2000, vol. 88, no. 1).

Fight fatigue. Teenagers may have a reputation for sleeping all day, but many are simply too busy to get the eight to nine hours of shut-eye they need to function. Also, teenagers' natural circadian rhythm—which prompts them to stay up late and then sleep late in the morning—often conflicts with school and other schedules. The result? Many teens crash during the day, diminishing their ability to concentrate and learn. Exercise, a healthy diet, establishing a regular bedtime, avoiding caffeine and other stimulants after 4 p.m., and setting aside enough time for homework during the day or early evening so he doesn't have to study into the wee hours of the morning can all help improve a teen's ability to sleep.

Carlotta Mast, a mother of two, lives in Boulder, Colorado.