As our children grow into teens (and eventually adults), there comes a time where we need to sit them down to talk about handling and advocating for their own health. Whether it's nutrition, a chronic health problem, or personal hygiene, sometimes kids as early as 11 or 12 are ready to take on these activities. 

While the timing comes down to your child and their maturity level, there are a general set of tips that can help any parent whenever it's time to pass that responsibility along.

Dr. Elizabeth Alderman is a nationally recognized specialist in adolescent medicine and the chair of the AAP Committee on Adolescence.

In this encore episode from September 2020, listen as she joins Melanie Cole to talk about when to let children go to the doctor alone, how to push kids to keep them active during quarantine, and utilizing teachable moments.