Unfortunately, the pandemic and its consequences are still with us. But we can practice safety protocols, rigorous self-care, love our neighbor and yes, support our teens who have little control over their new reality.
Here are some suggestions about how to prevent the pandemic blues with our tweens and teens.
Pandemic Blues Prevention with Tweens and Teens
- Open up. Use self-disclosure and talk about how you feel. Example, (if you work remotely) “I really miss the interaction at work. I didn’t think I would.”
- Ask open ended questions about what they feel like, “Tell me what you miss the most?”
- Go outside. Get back to nature. It can make such a difference. Encourage it and model it.
- Socialize safely! Find age-appropriate online communities.
- Use behavior activation. Suggest to your teen do one different activity a day. Set one goal a day. Say something like, “I’d like to try a new yoga video. I notice I feel better when I do something different. Would you like to do it with me?”
- Enjoy special family time. It doesn’t have to be verbal connection. Presence with each other builds trust. Cook together, watch a movie or play a game.
- Adopt a future orientation. Learn new skills together. By learning new skills for the future, teens realize the pandemic will end. Examples, driving lessons in parking lots with a parent, life skills like cooking and budgeting, computer coding or website design
- Be of service. Choose a family service project. Encourage teens to do their own service project. There’s nothing like getting out of yourself to ward off depression. You can: Mow a senior’s law. Do grocery shopping for neighbors. Start an online fundraiser for your favorite cause.
Ask your teen how they think you can prevent the blues. They may have great creative ideas.
But to offer our best to our families we need support which is why I offer a group coaching experience called, Enjoy Your Teen Again Group Coaching Experience.
Participants learn conscious communication skills that facilitate closer connections with your teens and become the very skills they need to build positive futures. AND parents have the added benefit of forming supportive friendships with like minded parents.
None of us can parent successfully alone, especially during a pandemic. Please reach out.
Email for more information, Laura@LauraLReagan.com.
