If you’ve ever tried to talk to your teen about their health, you know it can feel like pulling teeth. You ask how school’s going or whether they’re sleeping enough, and you get the classic one-word answers: “Fine.” “Good.” “I don’t know.”

As a parent, you want your teenager to be healthy and honest about what’s really happening — physically and emotionally. But adolescence is a unique season of change. Teens crave independence, yet they also need guidance. They want privacy, but they still rely on adults for structure and safety.