# Age 15: Development, Research, and What Helps

> What's normal at 15: learner's permits and practice driving, identity, sex talks, mood, vaping and cannabis, first jobs, and money, plus what helps.

- Stage: Age 15 (15 to 16 years)
- Series: Chorevia Parent Guides, newborn to 18 (https://chorevia.com/learn)
- Canonical URL: https://chorevia.com/learn/15-years
- Last reviewed: 2026-10-10
- Publisher: Chorevia (https://chorevia.com)
- Cite as: Chorevia. "Age 15: Development, Research, and What Helps." Last reviewed October 10, 2026. https://chorevia.com/learn/15-years

This guide is general education that summarizes published research and guidance from groups like the American Academy of Pediatrics, the CDC, and the WHO. It isn’t medical advice, and every child develops on their own timeline. Your pediatrician knows your child; if something feels wrong, call them. In an emergency, call 911.

## At a glance

- The permit year is your coaching window. Supervised driving is relatively safe; risk jumps in the first months of solo driving.
- Steady, varied practice beats a rushed hour count. Aim for about 70 hours over at least 6 months, including night, rain, and highways.
- Most parents coach steering and braking. Coach what to look for, too: hazards, escape routes, and what other drivers might do next.
- Talking about sex is linked to safer choices, and teaching about birth control isn't linked to earlier sex.
- About 1 in 7 teens had a major depressive episode in the past year. Depression is treatable, so ask about screening at the checkup.
- Cannabis is far stronger than in the 1990s. Daily use of high-potency products is linked to nearly 5 times the odds of psychosis.
- At 15, federal law allows up to 3 hours of work on a school day and 18 hours in a school week, with longer hours in summer.
- Teach debit before credit. Report a lost debit card within 2 business days and losses are capped at $50; wait and it can cost far more.

## Your age-15 checklist

- [ ] Look up your state's permit age, holding period, and practice-hour rules
- [ ] Start a practice log and aim for about 70 hours over at least 6 months
- [ ] Practice in parking lots, neighborhoods, highways, at night, and in rain
- [ ] Agree on calm-coaching rules before the first drive
- [ ] Put phones away on every drive, including yours
- [ ] Have a real conversation about sex, birth control, and consent
- [ ] Lock and unload any guns, store ammunition separately, and lock up medicines
- [ ] Save 988, Poison Help, and the love is respect line in both your phones
- [ ] Check federal and state work rules before a job or summer job starts
- [ ] Turn off debit card overdraft coverage and set up spending alerts
- [ ] Book the 15-year checkup and plan for your teen's time alone with the doctor
- [ ] Hand over one whole household job, from planning to cleanup

Fifteen is often the year of a learner's permit, a first summer job, and a sharper sense of who your teen is becoming. This guide covers ages 15 to 16. For starting high school, study skills, and first paychecks, see the [age-14 guide](https://chorevia.com/learn/14-years). For solo driving, work at 16, taxes, and Roth IRAs, see the [age-16 guide](https://chorevia.com/learn/16-years).

## What's developing

There's no CDC milestone checklist for teens. The AAP calls ages 14 to 17 "middle adolescence" ([AAP](https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/teen/Pages/Stages-of-Adolescence.aspx)), and this section draws on AAP, NIMH, CDC, and federal survey data about that stage.

### Body and growth

Puberty is still underway. Most boys have started their growth spurt, voices may still crack, some teens get acne, and most girls have regular periods ([AAP](https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/teen/Pages/Stages-of-Adolescence.aspx)).

### Thinking and judgment

Your 15-year-old can think abstractly but may struggle to apply it in the moment, especially when emotions run high ([AAP](https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/teen/Pages/Stages-of-Adolescence.aspx)). The prefrontal cortex, which handles planning and decisions, is one of the last brain areas to mature, in the mid-to-late 20s, but the teen brain is also built to learn and adapt ([NIMH](https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/the-teen-brain-7-things-to-know)).

### Who they're becoming

Expect more arguments as your teen pushes for independence, more time with friends, and a lot of concern about appearance; peer pressure may peak now. Many teens become interested in romantic and sexual relationships, and some question their sexual identity, which can be stressful without support ([AAP](https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/teen/Pages/Stages-of-Adolescence.aspx)).

### Mood and mental health

Depression and anxiety are common. In 2025, 15.1% of 12- to 17-year-olds had a major depressive episode in the past year, down from 20.8% in 2021, and 18.0% had moderate or severe anxiety symptoms in the past 2 weeks ([SAMHSA](https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/NSDUH-2025-Annual-Release/2025-nsduh-nnr-highlights.pdf)). In CDC's 2025 high school survey, 43% of girls and 24% of boys reported persistent sadness or hopelessness ([CDC](https://www.cdc.gov/yrbs/youth-health-in-focus/mental-health.html)). Many mental illnesses, including eating disorders, first appear in adolescence ([NIMH](https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/the-teen-brain-7-things-to-know)).

### Sleep and the teen body clock

Teens need 8 to 10 hours of sleep in every 24 ([Paruthi et al., 2016](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27250809/)), but in 2025 only 31% of 9th graders and 25% of 10th graders got even 8 on school nights ([CDC](https://www.cdc.gov/yrbs/youth-health-in-focus/sleep.html)). The sleep hormone melatonin stays high later at night in teens ([NIMH](https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/the-teen-brain-7-things-to-know)), and early school start times add to the problem ([AAP, 2014](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25156998/)). Sleep habits are in the [age-14 guide](https://chorevia.com/learn/14-years). Protect sleep when a permit or job arrives; drowsy driving is one of CDC's danger zones for teens ([CDC](https://www.cdc.gov/teen-drivers/parents-are-the-key/danger-zones.html)).

### The learner's permit year

Every state uses graduated driver licensing: a supervised learner stage, an intermediate license with limits, then full privileges ([IIHS](https://www.iihs.org/research-areas/teenagers)). The minimum permit age ranges from 14 to 16, and in 34 states it's somewhere from 15 to 15 years and 9 months. Most states require holding the permit for at least 6 months and logging supervised practice, most often 50 hours with 10 at night ([IIHS](https://www.iihs.org/research-areas/teenagers/graduated-licensing-laws-table)). IIHS recommends a permit age of 16 and at least 70 practice hours ([IIHS](https://www.iihs.org/research-areas/teenagers)). The stakes are real: 16- to 19-year-olds have a higher crash risk than any other age group, especially in the first months of licensure ([CDC](https://www.cdc.gov/teen-drivers/risk-factors/index.html)). There's progress, too: US teen crash deaths fell 50% from 1996 to 2024 ([IIHS](https://www.iihs.org/research-areas/teenagers)).

## What the research says

The driving research here is unusually direct. Most of the rest is observational, so read it as patterns, not proof.

**1. How you practice matters, and most parents skip the hardest lessons.** Researchers put cameras in the cars of 50 families for the first 4 months of the permit. Instruction on handling the car came up in 53% of clips with driving talk and negative comments in 22%, while explaining how to anticipate hazards was rare ([Goodwin et al., 2014](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24641793/)). In a randomized trial of 217 parent-teen pairs, an online plan that guided practice through 6 settings, from empty parking lots to highways, led to more varied practice. On a blinded road test 24 weeks later, 6% of program teens had the test stopped for unsafe driving versus 15% of others, a difference just short of statistical significance ([Mirman et al., 2014](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24957844/)). Among 82 Virginia teens whose cars carried sensors, steadier practice through the permit was linked to fewer crashes in the first year of solo driving ([Ehsani et al., 2020](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32250391/)).
*Takeaway:* Spread practice out, cover every kind of road, and talk about what to watch for, not just how to steer.

**2. More months of practice helped in Sweden.** In 1993, Sweden let learners start practicing at 16 instead of 17 and a half, while keeping the licensing age at 18. Novice drivers' crash risk fell about 15% overall, and about 40% among the roughly half of teens who used the longer practice period, an effect that held through their first 2 years of driving ([Gregersen et al., 2000](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10576673/)). Teens who chose to practice longer may have differed in other ways.
*Takeaway:* Use the whole permit period, not just the legal minimum.

**3. Hazard-spotting training is promising but mixed.** In California, 5,251 newly licensed 16- to 18-year-olds either took a computer-based hazard-perception course or didn't. The course didn't lower crashes overall: young men who took it had about 24% fewer crashes the next year, while young women had about 11% more, though that increase wasn't statistically significant ([Thomas et al., 2016](https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/1986)). In lab studies, video hazard training improved detection, though gains shrank after a week ([Isler et al., 2009](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19393791/); [Wetton et al., 2013](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23474238/)), and talking through hazards while responding to them slowed people down ([Young et al., 2014](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24773144/)).
*Takeaway:* Practice spotting hazards out loud as a passenger, and let the driver concentrate.

**4. Teens copy your driving more than your rules.** In a survey of 403 teens and their parents, parents' own distracted driving, and what teens believed their parents did, predicted teens' distracted driving. Whether parents approved of it didn't ([Carter et al., 2014](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24759439/)). In a randomized trial of 3,743 Connecticut families recruited at the permit, a written parent-teen driving agreement plus mailed materials led to stricter limits, less risky driving, and fewer violations, but not fewer crashes ([Simons-Morton et al., 2006](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16620739/)).
*Takeaway:* Put your own phone away, and write the rules down before the license.

**5. Talking about sex is linked to safer sex, modestly.** A meta-analysis of 52 studies with 25,314 teens found that parent-teen talk about sex was linked to more condom and contraceptive use. The effect was small, stronger for girls than boys, and stronger for talks with mothers than with fathers ([Widman et al., 2016](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26524189/)). In a national survey of 1,719 teens ages 15 to 19, those who'd had comprehensive sex education before first sex were less likely to report a pregnancy, and learning about contraception wasn't linked to more sexual activity ([Kohler et al., 2008](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18346659/)). Both are observational.
*Takeaway:* Learning about birth control isn't linked to having sex sooner. Have the talk, and dads can join in.

**6. Teen depression is treatable, but often goes untreated.** In 2025, 42.3% of teens who had a major depressive episode got no mental health treatment that year ([SAMHSA](https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/NSDUH-2025-Annual-Release/2025-nsduh-nnr-highlights.pdf)). In the TADS trial, 439 depressed 12- to 17-year-olds were randomly assigned to treatments for 12 weeks. Response rates were 71.0% with the antidepressant fluoxetine plus cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), 60.6% with fluoxetine alone, 43.2% with CBT alone, and 34.8% with placebo ([March et al., 2004](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15315995/)).
*Takeaway:* Treatment works. A screening at the checkup is an easy first step.

**7. Today's cannabis is much stronger.** THC in cannabis seized by US authorities rose from about 4% in 1995 to about 12% in 2014 ([ElSohly et al., 2016](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26903403/)). In a study of 901 people with a first episode of psychosis and 1,237 people without, daily use of cannabis with 10% THC or more was linked to nearly 5 times the odds of a psychotic disorder ([Di Forti et al., 2019](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30902669/)). A review of 20 studies linked higher-potency cannabis to more psychosis and cannabis use disorder ([Petrilli et al., 2022](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35901795/)). These are observational studies, not proof of cause.
*Takeaway:* "It's just weed" is out of date. Talk about strength and frequency, not just whether.

## Parenting techniques

### Coach from the passenger seat

- **Start easy, then climb.** Begin in an empty parking lot, then quiet streets, busier roads, highways, curvy rural roads, and shopping districts, the sequence used in the Teen Driving Plan trial ([Mirman et al., 2014](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24957844/)).
- **Spread it out.** CDC advises as many supervised hours as possible over at least 6 months, in varied weather, traffic, and times of day ([CDC](https://www.cdc.gov/teen-drivers/parents-are-the-key/danger-zones.html)).
- **Coach the eyes, not just the hands.** Ask "What do you see? What might happen next?" ([Goodwin et al., 2014](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24641793/)).
- **Don't get used to rough driving.** Frequent hard braking and sharp turns during the permit were linked to more crashes later ([Ehsani et al., 2020](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32250391/)).
- **Keep it calm.** Short cues while moving, feedback after parking, and no drives when either of you is upset or tired.

*Script:* "While we're moving, I'll keep it short. When we park, you tell me how it went first, then I'll add one thing."

### Model it, then write it down

Your teen is watching how you drive ([Carter et al., 2014](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24759439/)). Buckle up, keep your phone away, and never drive impaired ([CDC](https://www.cdc.gov/teen-drivers/parents-are-the-key/danger-zones.html)). Before the road test, fill out CDC's free parent-teen driving agreement, including limits on passengers and night driving for after the license ([CDC](https://www.cdc.gov/teen-drivers/parents-are-the-key/driving-agreement.html)); the [age-16 guide](https://chorevia.com/learn/16-years) covers those months.

### Support who they're becoming

The AAP's advice for this stage: be supportive, set clear limits with high but reasonable expectations, and expand independence as your teen takes on responsibility ([AAP](https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/teen/Pages/Stages-of-Adolescence.aspx)). Watch what you emphasize. Among 506 middle schoolers in an affluent community, those who felt their parents valued achievement above kindness had more symptoms, lower self-esteem, and lower grades, especially when they also felt criticized ([Ciciolla et al., 2017](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27830404/)). That's a correlation, not proof.

If your teen is exploring their sexual orientation or gender identity, your acceptance matters: in a study of 245 LGBT young adults, family acceptance in the teen years was linked to less depression and suicidal thinking ([Ryan et al., 2010](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21073595/)).

*Script:* "I care about your grades. I care more about what kind of person you are. What matters most to you right now?"

### Talk about sex, birth control, and consent

The AAP recommends that parents talk with teens about preventing pregnancy, including waiting to have sex, effective birth control, and condoms ([AAP](https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/teen/dating-sex/Pages/Birth-Control-for-Sexually-Active-Teens.aspx)). Use any opening your teen gives you, keep it positive, and break it into small pieces. Cover consent: saying yes, not just not saying no. Pressure is coercion, and someone under the influence of alcohol or drugs can't consent ([AAP](https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/teen/dating-sex/Pages/Helping-Teens-Resist-Sexual-Pressure.aspx)).

Name dating violence, too: in 2021, about 1 in 12 high schoolers who dated experienced physical dating violence ([CDC](https://www.cdc.gov/intimate-partner-violence/about/about-teen-dating-violence.html)). Warning signs in a partner include jealousy, put-downs, isolating your teen, constant texting, and asking for passwords ([AAP](https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/teen/dating-sex/Pages/Dating-Violence-Tips-for-Parents.aspx)). The [age-14 guide](https://chorevia.com/learn/14-years) covers sexting.

*Script:* "You don't have to tell me anything about your love life. I just want you to have the facts, and to know you can ask me anything."

### Ask about mood, and about suicide

If sadness, irritability, or lost interest lasts most of the time for a few weeks or longer, get help, starting with your pediatrician or school counselor ([NIMH](https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/teen-depression)). If you're worried, ask about suicide directly. A review found no evidence that asking increases suicidal thoughts, and some evidence it may reduce them ([Dazzi et al., 2014](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24998511/)). Warning signs are in [Call or text 988 if your teen](#call-or-text-988-if-your-teen).

*Script:* "You've seemed really low lately. Sometimes when people feel this way, they think about not wanting to be alive. Have you had thoughts like that?"

### Talk about vapes, cannabis, and pills

Lead with the norm: in 2025, 82% of 10th graders hadn't used alcohol, cannabis, or nicotine in the past month ([NIDA](https://nida.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/2025/12/reported-use-of-most-drugs-remains-low-among-us-teens)), and 5.2% of middle and high schoolers currently used e-cigarettes ([FDA](https://www.fda.gov/tobacco-products/ctp-newsroom/national-youth-tobacco-survey-fda-publishes-peer-reviewed-journal-article-releases-2025-findings)). Then get specific: nicotine can harm the parts of a teen's brain that control attention, learning, mood, and impulse control ([CDC](https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/e-cigarettes/youth.html)). About 3 in 10 people who use cannabis have cannabis use disorder, and the risk is higher for those who start young ([CDC](https://www.cdc.gov/cannabis/health-effects/cannabis-and-teens.html)). Fentanyl, increasingly pressed into counterfeit pills that look like prescription drugs, was involved in 77% of US teen overdose deaths in the first half of 2021 ([Friedman et al., 2022](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9006103/)).

*Script:* "Most kids your age aren't using. If you're ever somewhere and something feels wrong, call me. Getting you home safe comes first; we'll talk later."

## What to teach

At 15, aim for whole jobs, not single tasks: your teen plans it, does it, and checks it.

### Family jobs, start to finish

The AAP says chores build life skills and shared teamwork in the teen years, and a part-time job isn't a reason to stop helping at home ([AAP](https://www.healthychildren.org/English/family-life/family-dynamics/Pages/Household-Chores-for-Adolescents.aspx)). At 15, hand over whole systems: weekend meals from menu to cleanup, trash and recycling, or pet care including vet appointments. Cooking skills tend to stick: in a study that followed 1,321 Minnesotans from their teens to their late 20s, those who helped prepare food as teens were more likely to enjoy cooking later ([Laska et al., 2012](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22124458/)). Add health care basics, like making appointments and knowing their medicines and allergies; at 18, you lose legal say over their care unless they give written permission ([Got Transition](https://www.gottransition.org/parents-caregivers/frequently-asked-questions.cfm)).

Keep two categories separate. **Family jobs** are expected and unpaid; everyone who lives in the house helps run it. **Extra paid jobs** are optional work beyond that, like washing the car. Research on paying kids for chores is limited and mixed, so choose what fits your family's values. For ideas, see [raising independent kids with chores](https://chorevia.com/blog/raise-independent-kids-chores), [teaching kids pride in their work](https://chorevia.com/blog/teach-kids-pride-in-their-work), and [chores by age and what to pay](https://chorevia.com/blog/chores-by-age-what-to-pay).

### Work at 15: the rules

Under federal law, 15-year-olds can work in most office, retail, and food service jobs, outside school hours, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. (9 p.m. from June 1 through Labor Day), and no more than 3 hours on a school day or 18 hours in a school week ([DOL](https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/fact-sheets/43-child-labor-non-agriculture)). The Labor Department has listed possible changes to these limits on its regulatory agenda ([OIRA](https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eAgendaViewRule?pubId=202510&RIN=1235-AA53)), and states have their own rules, so check before a job starts. Work permits and pay stubs are in the [age-14 guide](https://chorevia.com/learn/14-years). Young workers have high injury rates and the right to refuse an unsafe task ([NIOSH](https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/young-workers/about/index.html)).

Summer jobs can matter beyond the paycheck: in a Chicago trial of 1,634 high schoolers from low-income neighborhoods, a summer jobs program cut violent-crime arrests by 43% over 16 months ([Heller, 2014](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25477459/)). See [Summer job search sprint](#summer-job-search-sprint).

### A budget for earned money

The CFPB's teen-years goal is independent decision-making, including planning spending and saving for things you want ([CFPB](https://www.consumerfinance.gov/consumer-tools/money-as-you-grow/teen-young-adult/)). Once your teen earns, have them set a savings share before spending; there's no research-backed magic number. Teaching works: across 76 randomized experiments, financial education improved knowledge and later money behavior ([Kaiser et al., 2020](https://www.nber.org/papers/w27057)). For more, see [teaching kids financial skills](https://chorevia.com/blog/teach-kids-financial-skills) and [teaching kids the cost of living](https://chorevia.com/blog/teach-kids-cost-of-living).

### Debit before credit

A debit card spends only money that's already there, so it's the right place to start. Leave overdraft coverage off; without it, banks can't charge overdraft fees on one-time debit purchases ([CFPB](https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/what-can-i-do-if-my-bank-charged-me-a-fee-for-overdrawing-my-account-en-1037/)). Report a lost card fast: within 2 business days, losses are capped at $50 ([FTC](https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/lost-or-stolen-credit-atm-and-debit-cards)). Credit cards can wait; see [Should my 15-year-old have a debit card or a credit card?](#should-my-15-year-old-have-a-debit-card-or-a-credit-card)

### Spotting scams

Teach the red flags: someone pretending to be from school or a well-known company, a problem or a prize, pressure to act fast, and requests to pay by gift card, wire, crypto, or payment app ([FTC](https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2025/03/parents-talking-your-kids-about-text-scams)). Real employers don't recruit by unexpected text, and paying to get a job is a sure sign of a scam ([FTC](https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2026/04/job-offer-text-probably-scam)). Forwarding money for someone else can make your teen a "money mule," which can bring legal trouble even if they didn't know it was stolen ([FTC](https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2021/12/avoiding-money-mule-scam)).

### Exploring careers without pressure

Fifteen is for exploring, not deciding. The Labor Department's free My Next Move site matches interests to careers ([My Next Move](https://www.mynextmove.org/)), and the Occupational Outlook Handbook shows pay, training, and job outlook by occupation ([BLS](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/)). Career-focused programs can pay off: in a randomized study at 9 high schools, students admitted to Career Academies earned about 11% more a year over the 8 years after high school ([Kemple, 2008](https://www.mdrc.org/work/publications/career-academies-long-term-impacts-work-education-and-transitions-adulthood)). Applications and testing come later; see the [age-16](https://chorevia.com/learn/16-years) and [age-17](https://chorevia.com/learn/17-years) guides.

## Activities to try

Pick a few. Most take less than an hour and build skills your teen will use for years.

### Parking lot to highway ladder

- **Time:** 30 to 60 minutes, 2 or 3 times a week across the permit
- **Builds:** Car control first, then judgment in harder settings
- **Evidence:** Moderate. In a randomized trial of 217 families, a plan built around practice in 6 settings, from empty parking lots to highways and rural roads, led to more varied practice and fewer stopped road tests, a result just short of statistical significance ([Mirman et al., 2014](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24957844/)); CDC recommends practice in varied conditions ([CDC](https://www.cdc.gov/teen-drivers/parents-are-the-key/danger-zones.html)), and IIHS recommends at least 70 practice hours ([IIHS](https://www.iihs.org/research-areas/teenagers)).

1. Start in an empty parking lot: smooth starts, stops, turns, and backing up.
2. Move to quiet neighborhood streets, then two-lane roads with more traffic.
3. Add highways, rural roads with curves and hills, and busy shopping areas.
4. Repeat each setting at night and in rain before calling it done.

**Make it work:** Move up a rung only when the last one starts to feel boring.

### Steady-practice log

- **Time:** 2 minutes after each drive
- **Builds:** Consistency, and a record for your state's requirement
- **Evidence:** Emerging. In a small study of 82 teens whose cars carried sensors, more consistent practice through the permit period was linked to fewer crashes in the first year of solo driving ([Ehsani et al., 2020](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32250391/)); IIHS suggests logging toward about 70 hours ([IIHS](https://www.iihs.org/research-areas/teenagers/young-driver-safety)).

1. Log the date, minutes, road type, weather, and day or night.
2. Aim for several shorter drives a week rather than one long weekend marathon.
3. Once a month, scan the log for settings you haven't covered yet.

### Hazard spotting from the passenger seat

- **Time:** Any drive when you're at the wheel
- **Builds:** Seeing trouble early
- **Evidence:** Mixed. Video-based hazard training improved young drivers' hazard detection in lab studies, though gains shrank a week later ([Isler et al., 2009](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19393791/); [Wetton et al., 2013](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23474238/)); a hazard course lowered crashes for young men but not young women ([Thomas et al., 2016](https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/1986)); and talking through hazards while responding to them slowed people down ([Young et al., 2014](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24773144/)).

1. While you drive, your teen calls out hazards: a ball near the street, a car edging out, brake lights two cars ahead.
2. Ask, "What might happen next? Where would you go?"
3. When your teen is driving, save the hazard talk for after you park.

### Calm-coach car rules

- **Time:** 10 minutes before the first drive
- **Builds:** Trust, focus, fewer blowups
- **Evidence:** Emerging. In-car recordings of 50 families found negative comments in 22% of clips with driving talk, while lessons on anticipating hazards were rare ([Goodwin et al., 2014](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24641793/)); whether calmer coaching lowers crash risk hasn't been tested.

1. Agree on short cue words for while the car is moving: "brake," "mirror," "pull over."
2. Save feedback for after you park, and let your teen go first.
3. Either of you can end a drive if you're tired, upset, or rushed.

**Make it work:** If you get scared, say "Pull over when it's safe," not "Stop!"

### Let your teen grade your driving

- **Time:** One week of your normal drives
- **Builds:** Shared rules, your credibility
- **Evidence:** Emerging. In a survey of 403 teens and their parents, parents' own distracted driving predicted teens' distracted driving, while parents' approval or disapproval didn't ([Carter et al., 2014](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24759439/)).

1. Give your teen a scorecard: phone touches, speeding, rolling stops, seat belt.
2. Drive your normal week and let them keep score.
3. Review it together and pick one habit you'll fix first.

**Make it work:** Take the criticism gracefully. That's the lesson.

### Values card sort

- **Time:** 20 minutes
- **Builds:** Self-knowledge, decisions that fit who they are
- **Evidence:** Emerging. Middle schoolers who felt their parents valued achievement above kindness had more symptoms and lower grades and self-esteem ([Ciciolla et al., 2017](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27830404/)); the card sort itself hasn't been studied.

1. Each of you writes 10 values on cards, like honesty, fun, family, achievement, kindness, faith, or adventure.
2. Sort them into "very important," "somewhat," and "not really."
3. Compare piles and talk about one real decision each top value would change.

**Make it work:** Let your teen's ranking stand without debate.

### Volunteer with younger kids

- **Time:** About an hour a week for 2 months or more
- **Builds:** Empathy, purpose, a reference for future jobs
- **Evidence:** Emerging. In a randomized trial of 106 10th graders, those assigned to volunteer weekly with elementary school kids for 2 months had lower inflammation, cholesterol, and body mass index than a wait-list group; the trial was small and short ([Schreier et al., 2013](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23440253/)).

1. Ask what your teen cares about: kids, animals, sports, the outdoors.
2. Find a weekly role, such as tutoring, assistant coaching, or a library reading program.
3. Check in after a month about what they're learning.

### Summer job search sprint

- **Time:** 2 or 3 weeks in early spring
- **Builds:** Job-hunting skills, follow-through
- **Evidence:** Mixed. Randomized summer jobs programs in Chicago and New York City lowered violent-crime arrests, incarceration, and deaths, though the New York study found somewhat lower earnings for 3 years afterward; the Chicago program served teens from low-income neighborhoods ([Heller, 2014](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25477459/); [Gelber et al., 2016](https://www.nber.org/papers/w20810)).

1. Check the federal hour limits and your state's work permit rules ([DOL](https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/fact-sheets/43-child-labor-non-agriculture)).
2. List 10 local places that hire 15-year-olds, such as pools, grocery stores, restaurants, and shops.
3. Practice a 30-second introduction and answers to two interview questions.
4. Apply, then follow up a week later.

**Make it work:** Lifeguard jobs need certification first, so look into classes early ([DOL](https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/fact-sheets/43-child-labor-non-agriculture)).

### Career interest night

- **Time:** 45 minutes
- **Builds:** Career awareness without pressure
- **Evidence:** Emerging. Career-focused high school programs raised later earnings in one randomized study ([Kemple, 2008](https://www.mdrc.org/work/publications/career-academies-long-term-impacts-work-education-and-transitions-adulthood)), but quick interest quizzes like this one haven't been tested.

1. Your teen takes the free interest quiz on My Next Move ([My Next Move](https://www.mynextmove.org/)).
2. Pick 3 matching careers and look up pay, training, and outlook in the Occupational Outlook Handbook ([BLS](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/)).
3. Find one adult in one of those jobs your teen could ask a few questions.

### Debit card dry run

- **Time:** 30 minutes to set up, then 10 minutes a week for a month
- **Builds:** Tracking spending, protecting an account
- **Evidence:** Emerging. The protections are clear ([FTC](https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/lost-or-stolen-credit-atm-and-debit-cards); [CFPB](https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/what-can-i-do-if-my-bank-charged-me-a-fee-for-overdrawing-my-account-en-1037/)), and financial education improves money behavior on average ([Kaiser et al., 2020](https://www.nber.org/papers/w27057)), but this routine hasn't been studied on its own.

1. Make sure overdraft coverage for debit purchases is off.
2. Turn on alerts for every purchase and for a low balance.
3. Each week, your teen matches purchases to receipts.
4. Practice what to do if the card goes missing: lock it in the app and call the bank.

### Scam spotting game

- **Time:** 10 minutes, whenever a suspicious message arrives
- **Builds:** Healthy skepticism online
- **Evidence:** Emerging. The FTC suggests having kids show you suspicious texts and explain how they spotted the scam ([FTC](https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2025/03/parents-talking-your-kids-about-text-scams)); the game itself hasn't been studied.

1. Save suspicious texts, emails, and messages for a week.
2. Your teen labels each red flag: pretending, a problem or prize, pressure, or an odd way to pay.
3. Talk through job offers that ask for money up front, a sure sign of a scam ([FTC](https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2026/04/job-offer-text-probably-scam)).

**Make it work:** Keep score, and celebrate a good streak.

### Teen-run weekend

- **Time:** One weekend a month
- **Builds:** Planning, cooking, running a household
- **Evidence:** Emerging. Teens who helped prepare food were more likely to enjoy cooking as adults, though teen cooking wasn't clearly tied to better diets later ([Laska et al., 2012](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22124458/)); the AAP says teen chores build life skills ([AAP](https://www.healthychildren.org/English/family-life/family-dynamics/Pages/Household-Chores-for-Adolescents.aspx)).

1. Your teen plans the weekend's meals within a set budget.
2. They write the grocery list, shop, and cook, with help when they ask.
3. They organize the cleanup and check that it's done.
4. Debrief together: what worked, and what to change next time.

### Health summary card

- **Time:** 30 minutes before the checkup
- **Builds:** Health independence
- **Evidence:** Emerging. Got Transition recommends that young people keep a summary of their medicines, allergies, emergency contacts, and past medical problems and learn to make their own appointments ([Got Transition](https://www.gottransition.org/parents-caregivers/frequently-asked-questions.cfm)); the activity hasn't been studied.

1. Together, list your teen's medicines, allergies, past illnesses, and emergency contacts.
2. Your teen photographs their insurance card and saves the pediatrician's number.
3. Your teen writes 2 questions to ask the doctor in private.

### One question a week

- **Time:** 5 to 15 minutes, about once a week
- **Builds:** Accurate information about sex and relationships, openness
- **Evidence:** Moderate. Across 52 studies, parent-teen talk about sex was consistently linked to more condom and contraceptive use, though the effect was small ([Widman et al., 2016](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26524189/)); the AAP recommends short, health-focused conversations ([AAP](https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/teen/dating-sex/Pages/Helping-Teens-Resist-Sexual-Pressure.aspx)).

1. Set up a jar or shared note where your teen can leave questions, anonymously if they like.
2. Answer one a week, briefly and honestly.
3. If you don't know, say so and look it up together from a trusted source.

**Make it work:** Car rides and walks are easy times; side by side feels less intense than face to face.

## Common questions

### What age can my teen get a learner's permit?

It depends on your state: the minimum learner's permit age ranges from 14 to 16, and in 34 states it's somewhere from 15 to 15 years and 9 months ([IIHS](https://www.iihs.org/research-areas/teenagers/graduated-licensing-laws-table)). Most states also require holding the permit for at least 6 months and logging supervised practice, most often 50 hours ([IIHS](https://www.iihs.org/research-areas/teenagers/graduated-licensing-laws-table)). In some states, the age depends on whether your teen takes driver's education ([IIHS](https://www.iihs.org/research-areas/teenagers/graduated-licensing-laws-table)). IIHS recommends a permit age of 16 as best practice ([IIHS](https://www.iihs.org/research-areas/teenagers)). Check your state's licensing agency for current rules.

### How do I teach my teen to drive without yelling?

Agree on the rules before you start: short, calm cues while the car is moving, and feedback only after you park. In-car recordings show parents often comment negatively and rarely explain what to watch for ([Goodwin et al., 2014](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24641793/)). Starting in empty parking lots and moving to harder roads step by step keeps the stakes low ([Mirman et al., 2014](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24957844/)). If either of you is tired, upset, or rushed, skip the drive. See [Calm-coach car rules](#calm-coach-car-rules).

### Is it safe to let my 15-year-old drive with a permit?

Supervised driving is relatively safe: in a study that put sensors in teens' cars, their crash and near-crash rates during the permit period were similar to adults'. Rates were about 6.5 times adult rates in the first year of solo driving, highest in the first 3 months ([Gershon et al., 2018](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30006026/)). So the permit year is the time to build skill. Follow your state's rules on who can supervise ([IIHS](https://www.iihs.org/research-areas/teenagers/graduated-licensing-laws-table)), require seat belts on every trip, and keep phones away.

### How many hours can a 15-year-old work?

During the school year, federal law allows 15-year-olds to work up to 3 hours on a school day and 18 hours in a school week, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. When school is out, the limits are 8 hours a day and 40 hours a week, and from June 1 through Labor Day they can work until 9 p.m. ([DOL](https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/fact-sheets/43-child-labor-non-agriculture)). Your state may be stricter, and the Labor Department has listed possible changes to the federal limits on its agenda ([OIRA](https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eAgendaViewRule?pubId=202510&RIN=1235-AA53)). Check both before a job starts.

### What jobs can a 15-year-old get?

Most office, retail, and food service jobs are open to 15-year-olds, such as cashiering, bagging groceries, and stocking shelves ([DOL](https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/fact-sheets/43-child-labor-non-agriculture)). Certified 15-year-olds can lifeguard at pools and water parks. They can't do baking, work from ladders, run most power-driven machines, or do door-to-door sales, and most construction, warehouse, and manufacturing jobs are off-limits ([DOL](https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/fact-sheets/43-child-labor-non-agriculture)). Babysitting and pet sitting are covered in the [age-13 guide](https://chorevia.com/learn/13-years).

### Should my 15-year-old have a debit card or a credit card?

A debit card is the better first step, and most teens can't get their own credit card anyway: issuers generally need proof of independent income or a cosigner over 21 for anyone under 21 ([CFPB](https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/can-a-card-issuer-consider-my-age-when-deciding-whether-to-issue-a-credit-card-to-me-en-20/)). Teach that debit money leaves the account right away and that fast reporting of a lost card limits losses ([FTC](https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/lost-or-stolen-credit-atm-and-debit-cards)). Leave overdraft coverage off so a purchase is declined instead of triggering a fee ([CFPB](https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/what-can-i-do-if-my-bank-charged-me-a-fee-for-overdrawing-my-account-en-1037/)). Building credit as an authorized user is covered in the [age-16 guide](https://chorevia.com/learn/16-years).

### How do I talk to my 15-year-old about sex?

Use whatever opening your teen gives you, keep it short and supportive, and focus on health and safety rather than lectures ([AAP](https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/teen/dating-sex/Pages/Helping-Teens-Resist-Sexual-Pressure.aspx)). The AAP recommends covering waiting to have sex, effective birth control, and condoms ([AAP](https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/teen/dating-sex/Pages/Birth-Control-for-Sexually-Active-Teens.aspx)). These talks are linked to safer sex later, though the effect is modest ([Widman et al., 2016](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26524189/)), and learning about contraception isn't linked to having sex sooner ([Kohler et al., 2008](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18346659/)). Your pediatrician will also talk with your teen privately ([AAP](https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/teen/Pages/One-on-One-Time-with-the-Pediatrician.aspx)).

### What are the warning signs of suicide in a teenager?

Warning signs include talking about wanting to die, feeling like a burden, or feeling hopeless or trapped; withdrawing from friends; giving away belongings; and making a plan or researching ways to die ([NIMH](https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/warning-signs-of-suicide)). Extreme mood swings, more drinking or drug use, reckless risks, and big changes in sleep or eating are signs too. Get help right away, especially if the behavior is new or getting worse. Ask your teen directly; asking doesn't plant the idea ([Dazzi et al., 2014](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24998511/)). Call or text 988, and call 911 if their life is in danger ([NIMH](https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/suicide-prevention)).

### Should my teen be screened for depression and anxiety?

Yes: the USPSTF recommends depression screening for all teens 12 to 18 and anxiety screening for ages 8 to 18 ([USPSTF, 2022](https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recommendation/screening-depression-suicide-risk-children-adolescents); [USPSTF, 2022](https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recommendation/screening-anxiety-children-adolescents)). The AAP also recommends yearly screening for suicide risk starting at 12, kept as confidential as possible ([AAP, 2025](https://downloads.aap.org/AAP/PDF/periodicity_schedule.pdf)); the USPSTF found too little evidence to weigh suicide-risk screening either way. Screening is usually a short questionnaire. If your teen is struggling now, don't wait for the checkup.

### Is today's marijuana stronger than it used to be?

Yes, much stronger: THC in cannabis seized by US authorities rose from about 4% in 1995 to about 12% in 2014 ([ElSohly et al., 2016](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26903403/)). Daily use of high-potency cannabis is linked to nearly 5 times the odds of psychosis ([Di Forti et al., 2019](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30902669/)). Hemp-derived products like delta-8 THC are intoxicating, haven't been evaluated by the FDA, and are often sold as gummies or candy ([FDA](https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/5-things-know-about-delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol-delta-8-thc)). In 2025, 6% of 10th graders had used them in the past year ([NIDA](https://nida.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/2025/12/reported-use-of-most-drugs-remains-low-among-us-teens)).

### Is social media causing my teen's anxiety or depression?

The research is contested: on average, links between screen use and teen well-being are small, but the AAP says effects vary. An analysis of data from 355,358 young people found digital technology use explained at most 0.4% of the differences in well-being ([Orben & Przybylski, 2019](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30944443/)). The AAP's 2026 guidance warns that design features built for compulsive use can cost sleep and expose teens to harmful content, and that more studies are needed ([AAP](https://www.healthychildren.org/English/family-life/Media/Pages/helping-kids-thrive-in-a-digital-world-AAP-policy-explained.aspx)). In 2025, 36% of high schoolers used social media hourly or more ([CDC](https://www.cdc.gov/yrbs/youth-health-in-focus/digital-behaviors.html)). Watch how your own teen sleeps and feels after time online.

### Does my 15-year-old need any shots?

Usually there's no new routine vaccine at 15 on the AAP schedule, but it's a good time for the yearly flu shot and to catch up on anything missed. The AAP's meningococcal ACWY booster comes at 16 ([AAP, 2026](https://downloads.aap.org/HC/EN/adolescentvaccineschedule.pdf)). Teens who start the HPV series at 15 or older need 3 doses ([AAP](https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/immunizations/Pages/Immunizations-for-Teenagers-and-Young-Adults.aspx)). US guidance has been changing. In January 2026, the CDC dropped flu and meningococcal vaccines, among others, from its routine schedule; the AAP still recommends them ([AAP](https://www.healthychildren.org/English/tips-tools/ask-the-pediatrician/Pages/what-is-the-difference-between-the-AAP-recommended-immunization-schedule-and-other-vaccine-schedules.aspx)). In March 2026, a federal judge paused many of the federal changes, a ruling the government has appealed ([STAT, 2026](https://www.statnews.com/2026/04/29/hhs-appealing-acip-vaccine-policy-lawsuit-ruling/)), so official guidance is still in flux. Ask your pediatrician which schedule they follow.

## Safety and when to get help

### Driving with a permit

- **Seat belts, every trip, every seat.** Buckling up cuts the risk of death or serious injury in a crash by about half ([CDC](https://www.cdc.gov/teen-drivers/parents-are-the-key/danger-zones.html)).
- **Phones away.** In 2025, 46% of high schoolers who drove had texted or emailed while driving in the past month ([CDC](https://www.cdc.gov/yrbs/youth-health-in-focus/digital-behaviors.html)).
- **The right supervisor.** Some states limit who can supervise a permit driver ([IIHS](https://www.iihs.org/research-areas/teenagers/graduated-licensing-laws-table)).
- **Never impaired.** Even small amounts of alcohol impair driving ([CDC](https://www.cdc.gov/teen-drivers/parents-are-the-key/danger-zones.html)), and that includes riding with an impaired driver.

### Guns, medicines, and alcohol at home

The AAP's advice: if possible, remove firearms from the home. Otherwise, store them locked and unloaded, keep ammunition locked separately, and don't share the key or combination with your teen. About 90% of suicide attempts with a firearm are fatal. Lock up medications, which are often used in suicide attempts; alcohol makes impulsive decisions more likely ([AAP](https://www.healthychildren.org/English/healthy-living/emotional-wellness/Pages/prevent-youth-suicide-remove-or-lock-up-lethal-items-at-home.aspx)). In a case-control study of 106 youth shootings, mostly suicide attempts, guns kept locked, kept unloaded, or with ammunition locked and stored separately were each linked to lower risk ([Grossman et al., 2005](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15701912/)).

### Vapes, edibles, and counterfeit pills

Hemp-derived THC products are often sold as gummies, chocolates, and candy ([FDA](https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/5-things-know-about-delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol-delta-8-thc)). For any possible poisoning, call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222, free and 24/7, or text POISON to 301-597-7137 ([America's Poison Centers](https://poisoncenters.org/)). Naloxone is sold over the counter. Signs of an opioid overdose include being impossible to wake, slow or shallow breathing, discolored lips or nails, and pinpoint pupils: give naloxone if you have it, call 911, lay the person on their side, and stay ([CDC](https://www.cdc.gov/stop-overdose/response/index.html)).

### Scams and sextortion

In financial sextortion, someone pressures a teen into sending explicit images, then demands money. Victims are typically boys 14 to 17. If it happens, tell your teen they are not in trouble and not alone; block the account but don't delete the profile or messages; and report it at tips.fbi.gov or 1-800-CALL-FBI ([FBI](https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/miami/news/sextortion-a-growing-threat-targeting-minors)). NCMEC's free Take It Down service helps remove sexual images taken before 18 ([NCMEC](https://takeitdown.ncmec.org/)).

### Call 911 if your teen

- Is unconscious, can't be woken, is breathing slowly or not at all, or may have overdosed ([CDC](https://www.cdc.gov/stop-overdose/response/index.html))
- Has attempted suicide or their life is in danger ([NIMH](https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/suicide-prevention))
- After a head injury, has a seizure, a worsening headache, repeated vomiting, slurred speech, growing confusion, or can't stay awake ([CDC](https://www.cdc.gov/heads-up/signs-symptoms/index.html))
- Is in immediate danger from a partner or anyone else ([love is respect](https://www.loveisrespect.org/))

### Call or text 988 if your teen

- Talks about wanting to die, feeling hopeless or trapped, or being a burden
- Is making a plan, giving away belongings, or saying goodbye ([NIMH](https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/warning-signs-of-suicide))
- Is in emotional crisis and you aren't sure what to do ([988 Lifeline](https://988lifeline.org/))

The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is free, confidential, and open 24/7 by call or text at 988, or by chat at chat.988lifeline.org. You can call about someone else ([988 Lifeline](https://988lifeline.org/)). LGBTQ+ teens can also reach the Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386 or by texting START to 678-678 ([Trevor Project](https://www.thetrevorproject.org/get-help/)). For dating abuse, call 866-331-9474 or text LOVEIS to 22522 ([love is respect](https://www.loveisrespect.org/)).

### Call your pediatrician if your teen

- Seems sad, irritable, or uninterested most of the time for a few weeks or longer ([NIMH](https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/teen-depression))
- May be using vapes, alcohol, cannabis, or pills, or you're worried they might be
- Has a partner who is jealous, controlling, or isolating them ([AAP](https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/teen/dating-sex/Pages/Dating-Violence-Tips-for-Parents.aspx))
- Has had any head injury, before going back to sports
- Hasn't had a checkup this year or is behind on vaccines

### The 15-year checkup

The AAP recommends a checkup every year in the teen years. At 15, expect a physical exam; yearly depression and suicide risk screening; questions about alcohol, nicotine, and drug use; a hearing test once between 15 and 17; and an HIV test at least once between 15 and 21, with other sexually transmitted infection testing based on risk, all kept as confidential as possible ([AAP, 2025](https://downloads.aap.org/AAP/PDF/periodicity_schedule.pdf)). Part of the visit is your teen alone with the doctor, who keeps it private unless your teen is being hurt or might hurt themselves or others; state laws vary ([AAP](https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/teen/Pages/One-on-One-Time-with-the-Pediatrician.aspx)). For vaccines, see [Does my 15-year-old need any shots?](#does-my-15-year-old-need-any-shots) above. Bring the [health summary card](#health-summary-card) and let your teen do the talking.

## Sources

- Allen B, Waterman H. "Stages of Adolescence." HealthyChildren.org, updated 2024. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/teen/Pages/Stages-of-Adolescence.aspx
- Flais SV. "Household Chores for Teens." HealthyChildren.org, updated 2024. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/family-life/family-dynamics/Pages/Household-Chores-for-Adolescents.aspx
- Kowal-Connelly S, Chung RJ. "One-on-One Time With the Pediatrician." HealthyChildren.org, updated 2024. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/teen/Pages/One-on-One-Time-with-the-Pediatrician.aspx
- Voss R. "Helping Teens Make Choices About Sex: Parent Tips." HealthyChildren.org, updated 2025. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/teen/dating-sex/Pages/Helping-Teens-Resist-Sexual-Pressure.aspx
- Ott MA, Hoopes A, Alderman EM; AAP Council on Adolescents and Young Adults. "Birth Control Options for Teens: AAP Policy Explained." HealthyChildren.org, updated 2025. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/teen/dating-sex/Pages/Birth-Control-for-Sexually-Active-Teens.aspx
- American Academy of Pediatrics. "Signs of Teen Dating Violence." HealthyChildren.org, updated 2016. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/teen/dating-sex/Pages/Dating-Violence-Tips-for-Parents.aspx
- Hardie J. "Prevent Youth Suicide: Remove or Lock Up Lethal Items at Home." HealthyChildren.org, updated 2025. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/healthy-living/emotional-wellness/Pages/prevent-youth-suicide-remove-or-lock-up-lethal-items-at-home.aspx
- Munzer T. "Helping Kids Thrive in a Digital World: AAP Policy Explained." HealthyChildren.org, updated 2026. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/family-life/Media/Pages/helping-kids-thrive-in-a-digital-world-AAP-policy-explained.aspx
- Fenton R. "Vaccines for Teens and Young Adults." HealthyChildren.org, updated 2026. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/immunizations/Pages/Immunizations-for-Teenagers-and-Young-Adults.aspx
- O'Leary ST. "What is the difference between the AAP immunization recommendations and other vaccine schedules?" HealthyChildren.org, updated 2026. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/tips-tools/ask-the-pediatrician/Pages/what-is-the-difference-between-the-AAP-recommended-immunization-schedule-and-other-vaccine-schedules.aspx
- American Academy of Pediatrics. "2026 Recommended Immunization Schedule: Adolescents 7 Through 18 Years Old." 2026. https://downloads.aap.org/HC/EN/adolescentvaccineschedule.pdf
- American Academy of Pediatrics and Bright Futures. "Recommendations for Preventive Pediatric Health Care" (Periodicity Schedule). 2025. https://downloads.aap.org/AAP/PDF/periodicity_schedule.pdf
- American Academy of Pediatrics Adolescent Sleep Working Group. "School start times for adolescents." *Pediatrics*, 2014. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25156998/
- STAT. "HHS appeals ruling that stalled many of Kennedy's vaccine policy changes." 2026. https://www.statnews.com/2026/04/29/hhs-appealing-acip-vaccine-policy-lawsuit-ruling/
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Sleep" (Youth Health in Focus, 2025 YRBS). 2026. https://www.cdc.gov/yrbs/youth-health-in-focus/sleep.html
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Mental Health and Suicide Risks" (Youth Health in Focus, 2025 YRBS). 2026. https://www.cdc.gov/yrbs/youth-health-in-focus/mental-health.html
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Digital Behaviors" (Youth Health in Focus, 2025 YRBS). 2026. https://www.cdc.gov/yrbs/youth-health-in-focus/digital-behaviors.html
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Eight Danger Zones for Teen Drivers." Parents Are the Key, 2025. https://www.cdc.gov/teen-drivers/parents-are-the-key/danger-zones.html
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Parent-Teen Driving Agreement." Parents Are the Key, 2025. https://www.cdc.gov/teen-drivers/parents-are-the-key/driving-agreement.html
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Risk Factors for Teen Drivers." 2025. https://www.cdc.gov/teen-drivers/risk-factors/index.html
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "About Teen Dating Violence." Accessed 2026. https://www.cdc.gov/intimate-partner-violence/about/about-teen-dating-violence.html
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "E-Cigarette Use Among Youth." 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/e-cigarettes/youth.html
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Cannabis and Teens." Accessed 2026. https://www.cdc.gov/cannabis/health-effects/cannabis-and-teens.html
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "What to Do If You Think Someone Is Overdosing." 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/stop-overdose/response/index.html
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Signs and Symptoms of Concussion." HEADS UP, accessed 2026. https://www.cdc.gov/heads-up/signs-symptoms/index.html
- National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. "Young Worker Safety and Health." CDC, 2026. https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/young-workers/about/index.html
- National Institute of Mental Health. "The Teen Brain: 7 Things to Know." Accessed 2026. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/the-teen-brain-7-things-to-know
- National Institute of Mental Health. "Teen Depression: More Than Just Moodiness." Accessed 2026. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/teen-depression
- National Institute of Mental Health. "Warning Signs of Suicide." Accessed 2026. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/warning-signs-of-suicide
- National Institute of Mental Health. "Suicide Prevention." Accessed 2026. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/suicide-prevention
- National Institute on Drug Abuse. "Reported use of most drugs remains low among U.S. teens." News release, December 2025. https://nida.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/2025/12/reported-use-of-most-drugs-remains-low-among-us-teens
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. "Highlights for the 2025 National Survey on Drug Use and Health." 2026. https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/NSDUH-2025-Annual-Release/2025-nsduh-nnr-highlights.pdf
- US Preventive Services Task Force. "Depression and Suicide Risk in Children and Adolescents: Screening." 2022. https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recommendation/screening-depression-suicide-risk-children-adolescents
- US Preventive Services Task Force. "Anxiety in Children and Adolescents: Screening." 2022. https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recommendation/screening-anxiety-children-adolescents
- US Food and Drug Administration. "National Youth Tobacco Survey: FDA Publishes Peer-Reviewed Journal Article, Releases 2025 Findings." 2026. https://www.fda.gov/tobacco-products/ctp-newsroom/national-youth-tobacco-survey-fda-publishes-peer-reviewed-journal-article-releases-2025-findings
- US Food and Drug Administration. "5 Things to Know about Delta-8 Tetrahydrocannabinol." 2022. https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/5-things-know-about-delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol-delta-8-thc
- US Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division. "Fact Sheet #43: Child Labor Provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act for Nonagricultural Occupations." Revised 2016. https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/fact-sheets/43-child-labor-non-agriculture
- Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs. "Hours of Work Standards for Young Workers Under the Fair Labor Standards Act" (RIN 1235-AA53). Unified Agenda, accessed 2026. https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eAgendaViewRule?pubId=202510&RIN=1235-AA53
- US Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. "My Next Move." Accessed 2026. https://www.mynextmove.org/
- US Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Occupational Outlook Handbook." Accessed 2026. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. "Money as You Grow: Teenagers and Young Adults." Accessed 2026. https://www.consumerfinance.gov/consumer-tools/money-as-you-grow/teen-young-adult/
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. "Can a card issuer consider my age when deciding whether to issue a credit card to me?" Accessed 2026. https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/can-a-card-issuer-consider-my-age-when-deciding-whether-to-issue-a-credit-card-to-me-en-20/
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. "What can I do if my bank charged me a fee for overdrawing my account?" Accessed 2026. https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/what-can-i-do-if-my-bank-charged-me-a-fee-for-overdrawing-my-account-en-1037/
- Federal Trade Commission. "Lost or Stolen Credit, ATM, and Debit Cards." Accessed 2026. https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/lost-or-stolen-credit-atm-and-debit-cards
- Federal Trade Commission. "Parents: Talking to your kids about text scams." 2025. https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2025/03/parents-talking-your-kids-about-text-scams
- Federal Trade Commission. "That job offer text is probably a scam." 2026. https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2026/04/job-offer-text-probably-scam
- Federal Trade Commission. "Avoiding a money mule scam." 2021. https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2021/12/avoiding-money-mule-scam
- Federal Bureau of Investigation. "Sextortion: A Growing Threat Targeting Minors." Accessed 2026. https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/miami/news/sextortion-a-growing-threat-targeting-minors
- National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. "Take It Down." Accessed 2026. https://takeitdown.ncmec.org/
- America's Poison Centers. "Poison Help." Accessed 2026. https://poisoncenters.org/
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Accessed 2026. https://988lifeline.org/
- The Trevor Project. "Get Help." Accessed 2026. https://www.thetrevorproject.org/get-help/
- love is respect. National Domestic Violence Hotline, accessed 2026. https://www.loveisrespect.org/
- Got Transition. "Frequently Asked Questions: Parents and Caregivers." Accessed 2026. https://www.gottransition.org/parents-caregivers/frequently-asked-questions.cfm
- Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. "Teenagers." Accessed 2026. https://www.iihs.org/research-areas/teenagers
- Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. "Teenagers: Graduated licensing laws" (state table). Accessed 2026. https://www.iihs.org/research-areas/teenagers/graduated-licensing-laws-table
- Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. "Young driver safety: a guide for parents of teens." Accessed 2026. https://www.iihs.org/research-areas/teenagers/young-driver-safety
- Thomas FD, Rilea S, Blomberg RD, Peck RC, Korbelak KT. "Evaluation of the Safety Benefits of the Risk Awareness and Perception Training Program for Novice Teen Drivers." National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT HS 812 235, 2016. https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/1986
- Kemple JJ. "Career Academies: Long-Term Impacts on Work, Education, and Transitions to Adulthood." MDRC, 2008. https://www.mdrc.org/work/publications/career-academies-long-term-impacts-work-education-and-transitions-adulthood
- Gelber A, Isen A, Kessler JB. "The Effects of Youth Employment: Evidence from New York City Lotteries." *Quarterly Journal of Economics*, 2016 (NBER Working Paper 20810). https://www.nber.org/papers/w20810
- Kaiser T, Lusardi A, Menkhoff L, Urban CJ. "Financial Education Affects Financial Knowledge and Downstream Behaviors." NBER Working Paper 27057, 2020. https://www.nber.org/papers/w27057
- Goodwin AH, Foss RD, Margolis LH, Harrell S. "Parent comments and instruction during the first four months of supervised driving: an opportunity missed?" *Accident Analysis & Prevention*, 2014. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24641793/
- Mirman JH, Curry AE, Winston FK, et al. "Effect of the teen driving plan on the driving performance of teenagers before licensure: a randomized clinical trial." *JAMA Pediatrics*, 2014. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24957844/
- Ehsani JP, Gershon P, Grant BJB, et al. "Learner Driver Experience and Teenagers' Crash Risk During the First Year of Independent Driving." *JAMA Pediatrics*, 2020. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32250391/
- Gershon P, Ehsani JP, Zhu C, et al. "Crash Risk and Risky Driving Behavior Among Adolescents During Learner and Independent Driving Periods." *Journal of Adolescent Health*, 2018. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30006026/
- Gregersen NP, Berg HY, Engström I, et al. "Sixteen years age limit for learner drivers in Sweden: an evaluation of safety effects." *Accident Analysis & Prevention*, 2000. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10576673/
- Isler RB, Starkey NJ, Williamson AR. "Video-based road commentary training improves hazard perception of young drivers in a dual task." *Accident Analysis & Prevention*, 2009. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19393791/
- Wetton MA, Hill A, Horswill MS. "Are what happens next exercises and self-generated commentaries useful additions to hazard perception training for novice drivers?" *Accident Analysis & Prevention*, 2013. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23474238/
- Young AH, Chapman P, Crundall D. "Producing a commentary slows concurrent hazard perception responses." *Journal of Experimental Psychology: Applied*, 2014. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24773144/
- Carter PM, Bingham CR, Zakrajsek JS, Shope JT, Sayer TB. "Social norms and risk perception: predictors of distracted driving behavior among novice adolescent drivers." *Journal of Adolescent Health*, 2014. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24759439/
- Simons-Morton BG, Hartos JL, Leaf WA, Preusser DF. "The effect on teen driving outcomes of the Checkpoints Program in a state-wide trial." *Accident Analysis & Prevention*, 2006. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16620739/
- Widman L, Choukas-Bradley S, Noar SM, Nesi J, Garrett K. "Parent-Adolescent Sexual Communication and Adolescent Safer Sex Behavior: A Meta-Analysis." *JAMA Pediatrics*, 2016. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26524189/
- Kohler PK, Manhart LE, Lafferty WE. "Abstinence-only and comprehensive sex education and the initiation of sexual activity and teen pregnancy." *Journal of Adolescent Health*, 2008. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18346659/
- March J, Silva S, Petrycki S, et al. "Fluoxetine, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and their combination for adolescents with depression: Treatment for Adolescents With Depression Study (TADS) randomized controlled trial." *JAMA*, 2004. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15315995/
- Dazzi T, Gribble R, Wessely S, Fear NT. "Does asking about suicide and related behaviours induce suicidal ideation? What is the evidence?" *Psychological Medicine*, 2014. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24998511/
- Grossman DC, Mueller BA, Riedy C, et al. "Gun storage practices and risk of youth suicide and unintentional firearm injuries." *JAMA*, 2005. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15701912/
- ElSohly MA, Mehmedic Z, Foster S, et al. "Changes in Cannabis Potency Over the Last 2 Decades (1995-2014): Analysis of Current Data in the United States." *Biological Psychiatry*, 2016. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26903403/
- Di Forti M, Quattrone D, Freeman TP, et al. "The contribution of cannabis use to variation in the incidence of psychotic disorder across Europe (EU-GEI): a multicentre case-control study." *Lancet Psychiatry*, 2019. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30902669/
- Petrilli K, Ofori S, Hines L, et al. "Association of cannabis potency with mental ill health and addiction: a systematic review." *Lancet Psychiatry*, 2022. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35901795/
- Friedman J, Godvin M, Shover CL, et al. "Trends in Drug Overdose Deaths Among US Adolescents, January 2010 to June 2021." *JAMA*, 2022. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9006103/
- Ryan C, Russell ST, Huebner D, Diaz R, Sanchez J. "Family acceptance in adolescence and the health of LGBT young adults." *Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing*, 2010. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21073595/
- Ciciolla L, Curlee AS, Karageorge J, Luthar SS. "When Mothers and Fathers Are Seen as Disproportionately Valuing Achievements: Implications for Adjustment Among Upper Middle Class Youth." *Journal of Youth and Adolescence*, 2017. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27830404/
- Schreier HMC, Schonert-Reichl KA, Chen E. "Effect of volunteering on risk factors for cardiovascular disease in adolescents: a randomized controlled trial." *JAMA Pediatrics*, 2013. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23440253/
- Heller SB. "Summer jobs reduce violence among disadvantaged youth." *Science*, 2014. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25477459/
- Laska MN, Larson NI, Neumark-Sztainer D, Story M. "Does involvement in food preparation track from adolescence to young adulthood and is it associated with better dietary quality? Findings from a 10-year longitudinal study." *Public Health Nutrition*, 2012. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22124458/
- Orben A, Przybylski AK. "The association between adolescent well-being and digital technology use." *Nature Human Behaviour*, 2019. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30944443/
- Paruthi S, Brooks LJ, D'Ambrosio C, et al. "Recommended Amount of Sleep for Pediatric Populations: A Consensus Statement of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine." *Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine*, 2016. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27250809/