Your son at 17

At 17, your son is about to enter the last stage of his youth, the phase between childhood and adulthood. But it's still growing - literally. Men continue to grow into their early twenties. Here are a few more things you can look forward to as your teen crosses the threshold of adulthood.

In general

Your son is still changing physically, but most likely his voice is as deep as it gets and he already has facial hair.

Psychologically, 17 years is a transitional age for boys. Your son may be thinking about his future and his goals. Perhaps he is a little more realistic about the direction of his life. Or he may still have his head in the clouds about what he wants to do and be.

Emotionally, your son will become more independent than ever. He may feel like he needs to challenge you, or he may sound like a know-it-all. He can still have a lot of teenage ups and downs. Like adults, teenagers can develop depression. If your son is sad for more than 2 weeks, this is not normal and you should call his doctor.

His growing independence may mean he can withstand peer pressure better than before, but he will likely want to spend more time with friends than family. He will always need you to set boundaries. You may find it easier to get him to follow the rules if you talk about the consequences of breaking them instead of just telling him what to do.

Dating and sex

Your 17 year old son probably thinks a lot about dating and sex. He will begin to understand the mutual help in his romantic relationships and see that the happiness of others can be just as important as his own. He will become more aware of his orientation (straight, gay, bisexual, etc.) and may even have sex. You can help him figure it out by talking to him about things like:

Birth control
Consent
What to do if he’s ever in a situation where he doesn’t feel safe
Sexually transmitted diseases Your son may have to make a sexual choice, but he needs information to decide what to do. He's going to learn about sex somewhere - it can also come from you so you know he's getting the right information.

Body image

Teenagers can be very concerned about their appearance. Eating disorders are more common in girls, but boys can also develop them. Teenagers who play sports are especially at risk because they may feel the need to "gain weight" or look a certain way.

You can help your son avoid an eating disorder by talking to him about:

Balanced diet
Treat food as fuel, not as a reward.
Dangers of diet or food to manage your emotions
What he sees in magazines, on TV or on the Internet

If you notice signs of an eating disorder, talk to your son. Also invite his doctor into the conversation. Make an appointment with your son.

Alcohol and drugs

As your son spends more time with his friends, he may encounter teenagers who use alcohol or drugs. It is estimated that one in four children between the ages of 12 and 17 have used drugs. The age of 16 to 18 is the peak age for alcohol and drug use. Talk openly about these issues with your son. This can reduce their risk of drug and alcohol use, but it's also important that you talk about it. If you use them, you tell him that everything is fine. The same for smoking.

Internet and social networks

Nine out of 10 teenagers use the Internet on a mobile device such as a smartphone. It's just part of your son's life, but he needs your guidance to stay safe online. Be sure to tell him about: