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12 ways to de-stress your teen
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Chat Break/Dreamstime.com
Parent and peer pressure have always been heightened during teen years, however, the expectations placed on teens today seem higher than ever. And when those expectations can not be reached, teen stress builds.
Added to the pressure and need to be socially accepted by their peers, teens are expected to have multi-page resumes, play multiple sports, do regular community service and get straight “A’s”. With all these expectations, it’s not a surprise to learn that 1 in 10 teens contemplates suicide, while before the 1970’s, teen suicide was a rare event.
Here are 12 ways de-stress your teen:
• Limit extra-curriculum activities to one or two things they truly enjoy so they have more down-time and can avoid over-scheduling.
• Try to eat at least one meal a day with them and have family discussions—you need to know what’s going on in their lives.
• Get them off technology (computer, cell phone, iPod) for a couple of hours each week for family time, household chores or discussion.
• Make sure they have physical as well as intellectual stimulation every day. A brilliant mind can’t do much without a healthy body.
• Pay attention to warning signs of depression or suicide.
• Let them be kids and have fun once in a while without an agenda – don’t make everything a learning project.
• Teach them practical living skills—chores around the house or yard, cooking, cleaning, social skills—to help them prepare for life in the real world.
• Get to know their friends – open your house to them. They are your direct connection to your teen’s life outside of home.
• Reward them for making a true effort – not only for straight A’s.
• Be active in their school—volunteer for events and get to know their teachers.
• Don’t push your own agendas and dreams upon them—let them decide what they want to do in life.
• Act like a parent more than a friend. Your role is to teach, guide and support.
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