When your son turns 17: What you and your baby need to know

At the age of 17, your son is about to begin the final phase of adolescence, the period between childhood and adulthood. Here are some things to look forward to as your child crosses the final threshold of adulthood.

At the age of 17, your son is still experiencing physical changes, voice and even the appearance of a beard (mustache) on his face. Mentally, your son may be having thoughts about his future and goals. They may be a little more realistic about where they want to be in life, but they can still be vague about what they want to do and be. Emotionally, your son will be more independent than ever. They may feel like they need a challenge or they may become a know-it-all.
However, at this age, your son may still have a lot of teenage ups and downs. Like adults, teenagers can experience depression. If your son is depressed, feeling sad, depressed for more than 2 weeks, you should call the doctor for timely support.
Your son's growing independence may mean he's better able to resist peer pressure than before and is more likely to want to spend time with friends than with family. So you should still set limits for your child. It's easier to get them to follow the rules if you talk about the consequences of breaking them instead of just telling them what to do.

At 17, your son will probably think a lot about dating and sex. They will begin to understand the give and take in their romantic relationships and they will see that the happiness of others is just as important as their own. Your son will be more aware of his tendencies (straight, gay, bisexual, etc) and they may even have sex. You can help your son solve problems by sharing things like providing knowledge about reproductive health, birth control methods, consent in decisions or relationships, and what they should do. if you are in a situation where you don't feel safe, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), etc.
Your son may have to make some sexual choices, but they need information to can decide what to do. They will learn about sex from you somewhere too, so be sure you can provide the exact information your child needs.

Teenage boys can be very concerned with their looks. Boys are more likely to have eating disorders than girls. You can help your son avoid eating disorders by talking to them about maintaining healthy eating habits, the dangers of dieting, or eating to handle emotions. If you notice signs of an eating disorder, talk to your son and see his doctor for the correct support.

As your son spends more time with friends they may come across teenagers drinking or using drugs. An estimated one in four children aged 12 to 17 has used drugs. The ages of 16 to 18 are peak periods for alcohol and drug use. So it's a good idea to talk openly with your son about these issues, as it can reduce his risk of drug, smoking and alcohol use, but it's important that you talk and Share them wisely.

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 they need your guidance on how to stay safe online. So make sure you talk to your kids about how to control the privacy of their online profiles.
Do not post personal information such as phone numbers and addresses. Use a good password that cannot be easily guessed by others. Let you know if your son is getting texts from people they don't know. Don't send pictures or videos that your son wouldn't want anyone to see.
Children at the age of 17 are the age when they are about to enter adulthood, there will be a lot of changes in body as well as physiological and emotional. Therefore, parents should always be there to accompany their children, share difficulties to understand and help children to be firm for the next stages.

Reference source: webmd.com