In Jain dharma, tapas (fasting, upvās) is very important – but it is never meant to harm the body. For children and teenagers, the rule is:

“Capacity first, tapas later.” (शक्ति अनुसार तप)

1. What our śāstras and āchāryas emphasize

• Tapas is for:

- controlling desires, - reducing anger/ego/attachment, - purifying karma.

• For gṛhasth (householders), it is not compulsory to do hard fasts like upvās, attham, māskhaman etc.
• The main principle is:

> अहिंसा परमो धर्म If a fast becomes self‑himsā (injury to your own body), it goes against the real spirit of Jainism.

So, any vrat (including upvās) must respect:

• your age
• your health
• your mental state
• guidance of parents + doctor + guru.

You can read basic guidance on upvās and types of tapas here

2. Children doing upvās / māskhaman – is it necessary?

For small children (primary school age, under puberty):

• Full upvās, nirjal, māskhaman, atthai, etc. are generally not encouraged.
• If they insist, elders should gently:

- explain simple forms of tapas, - give lighter options (see below), - avoid anything that can disturb growth, health, or mind.

For teens (around 13–18):

• Bodies are still growing; studies and mental balance are very important.
• Some teenagers with good health and proper guidance may do:

- occasional upvās (with water), - or short series of fasts during Paryushan, etc.

• But even for teens:

- No one should force hard fasting. - If there is weakness, medical issue, eating disorder, extreme stress, then strict fasting should be avoided.

3. How to balance “science” and “dharma”?

Modern medical science says children need:

• regular nutrition for growth,
• stable energy for brain and body.

Jain dharma also wants:

• health (so that we can do sādhanā),
• ahimsā even towards our own body.

So the balanced Jain view:

1. Health is also dharma.

A sick, weak body created by extreme tapas at wrong age is not ideal Jain practice.

1. Tapas must be according to śakti (capacity).

Where there is real risk to health, lighten the tapas, don’t stop dharma – just change the form.

1. Intention (bhāva) > outer show.

A teen doing one honest ekāsan with full samayik is spiritually higher than a child doing māskhaman just for praise.

4. Safe alternatives for children & teens (instead of strict upvās)

Options that keep both spirituality and health:

For small children:

• No TV / mobile for one day as “tapas”.
• Avoid their favorite item (chocolate, chips, cold drinks, etc.) for a day.
• Do ekāsan or very simple food once or twice a day (no junk, no outside).
• Do samayik for 10–15 minutes with parents.
• Learn and recite:

- Navkār Mantra, - Logassa, - small stavans – with meaning.

For teens:

• Ekāsan / biyāsan on certain tithis.
• Avoid one rasa for some time (no sweets, no fried foods, no outside food).
• Aayambil sometimes, if health is good.
• Limited, carefully done upvās with water, once in a while, under:

- parents’ permission, - doctor’s okay (if any issue), - and guidance of guru / pathshala teacher.

All these are real tapas in Jainism, not “lesser”. See overview of common taap types here

5. When should a child/teen not do upvās?

They should avoid strict fasting if:

• Underweight, very thin, or weak.
• Any medical condition (anemia, diabetes, hormonal issues, eating disorder, frequent fainting/headache, etc.).
• Under exam stress or high mental pressure.
• Doctor or parents clearly say “no”.
• They are doing it only due to peer pressure, comparison, or show‑off.

In such cases, choosing milder tapas is more Jain, because:

• you protect life (jīvan rakshan),
• you avoid himsā to your own sharīr.

6. Practical guideline you can follow

1. Children (up to ~12):

- No big fasts like upvās, māskhaman. - Use simple food‑restraint and behaviour‑tapas (no gadgets, no anger day, etc.).

1. Younger teens (~13–15):

- Start with ekāsan, biyāsan, chauvihār, small aayambil. - Very occasional upvās if totally healthy and happy to do it – never forced.

1. Older teens (~16–18):

- Can do upvās sometimes, but: - with water (unless very experienced and guided), - not long chains like atthai/māskhaman without senior guidance, - stop immediately if body gives bad signals.

1. Always:

- Take pachchakkhan clearly. - Spend the day in svādhyāy, pratikraman, samayik, not just “empty stomach”. - Do parṇā properly, not overeating and spoiling health.

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Summary: Jain dharma does not demand that all children and teenagers must do hard fasts. Tapas is according to age, health, and capacity. For growing children, lighter and safer forms of tapas are better and more in line with ahimsā. If science and doctors say a type of fasting is risky at that age, then from Jain view also, that fasting should be softened or avoided, and replaced with gentler, meaningful practices.