How to help your teen through the end of the pandemic
Is your teen still struggling?
The world is trying to push itself back to normal, but it isn’t quite there yet. In the meantime, there are still graduations and summer plans that might get pushed to the back burner. Yet again, another FOMO moment for teens; they are missing big events and time typically spent connecting and bonding with their friends.
A new study says that 46% of teen’s are showing more or new symptoms of worsening mental health.
So what on earth can we do about it?
Our teens are slowly slipping into what feels like an irreversible downward spiral. And while many schools are going back to normal, there is still isolation at play. There are still a lot of factors we can’t control.
When the world is out of our control, how can we help our teens?
Listen
Generously
Ask questions from a place of genuine curiosity. So what do you think it the hardest part of being in college this year during the pandemic? Has there been any kind of silver lining in it for you? What do you think you want to do instead?
Validate
That’s understandable.
I imagine I would feel that way, too. I bet most kids your way are feeling similarly and it’s understandable.
Don’t say, “I understand.” You don’t, and they know it!
Offer Alternatives and Support in getting creative
Do you want ideas about how you could feel better, or do you just want to vent?
I wonder what would make it more tolerable for you…
How could we get creative so you can still have a good time and stay connected to people without creating more risk? What are some ways that might be really fun to get social in small groups?
Don’t
Invalidate: No, that’s not even true. Stop being dramatic.
Tell them how to feel. Lecture. (They stop listening after 17 seconds!)
Tell them what the silver lining is. That’s invalidating.