With the constant changes brought about due to COVID-19, kids experienced a school year unlike any that generations before them could have imagined. Band practice was cancelled, sports were cancelled, after school programs were cancelled, and even time with friends was, for lack of a better word, cancelled. The school year is now over, but COVID still very much exists, as do the feelings of uncertainty that come with an uncontrolled pandemic.
Teens had to deal with heightened levels of stress due to homeschooling, but at least studying and taking tests was still somewhat of a constant, albeit via the internet. With summer here, and still many grey areas revolving around the coronavirus, anxiety in teens is very high, and needs attention to prevent lasting mental health issues. Here are some tips for helping your teens navigate “the new normal” this summer.
Keep a Schedule
Anxiety stems from many things, but the unfamiliar is one of the most common, and COVID-19 and its subsequent life changes are as unfamiliar as it gets, especially for young people. Encouraging your teen to stick to a schedule this summer, no matter what that schedule may be, adds a sense of regularity in this very irregular time. Hobbies are important every summer, simply to keep teens busy, but this summer they are even more important. Encourage your teens to pursue something (art, sport, knowledge, etc.) and help them set up a plan to achieve goals in their pursuit.
Stay Social
Making friend time part of that schedule is also important for the teenage psyche. Depending on where you live, it may not be in the best interest to make friend time an in-person ordeal, but Zoom, Fortnite, online Madden tournaments, etc. are all ways to enjoy peer connection without having to physically interact. Some “together” activities that don’t involve physical contact would be hiking with friends, hanging out in the park, or organizing ways to help out the community. Outdoor activities and doing things with a cause (volunteer work) are all great stress management tools.
Encourage Family Time
Even though most adults don’t have a summer break, making extra time for you teens who do have a summer break is great for mental health. Similar to keeping a schedule, family time adds a sense of regularity to this very irregular time. It doesn’t have to be a five-hour-per-day thing, but planning for family time and sticking to those plans is very important, especially now that most states are mandating that gatherings outside of the members of a given household should be avoided.
Talk it Out
With these uncertain times, anxiety tends to stem from that uncertainty, and discussing what is going on in the world with an open ear will help keep your teen’s mind at ease. With something as unique as a pandemic, it’s understandable that you won’t have all of the answers, but be candid about the unknown, and share stories of your own teen years that are relevant to the current situation. If you were grounded for an extended period of time “back in the day,” share what you did to pass the hours and encourage your teens to avoid the mistakes you made while you’re at it!
Remain Positive
Even if you have your own understandable doubts about the current situation, when in the eye of your teens, positivity is contagious. All of these things mentioned above can be accentuated with a heightened level of positivity, and that positivity will resonate. Reminding your teens that “this too shall pass” will ultimately help them stick to their schedules, enjoy digital hangouts more, and make conversations more poignant. Just as kids really live up their last months of senior year, you can help mold that mindset in regard to the coronavirus summer.
