Helping Your Teen Stay Connected During Quarantine
Strengthening Family Bonds in the Face of Quarantine Fatigue
The coronavirus pandemic has taken a toll on our community: jobs lost, schools closed, outside activities canceled, parents tasked with homeschooling while working remotely, children faced with a radical disruption to their lives. What may have felt like a relief from our overly-demanding lives has given way to quarantine fatigue. Our teens may be exhibiting this stress through increased isolation and moodiness. How can we help?
10 Tips for Supporting Our Teens During the Quarantine (and Beyond)
Model Self-Care: Teens absorb our mood into their bloodstream and our stress becomes their distress, so take steps to ground yourself and stay balanced
Talk to Your Teens and Plan for Positive Interactions: A strong emotional connection with our teens is their best protection against the many social and emotional pressures they face! Research shows that to maintain a healthy loving relationship we need a ratio of 5 positive to every 1 negative interaction, so set your intention to positivity—the goal is to get to know your teen, stay open, curious and non-judgmental—they will only open up to you if you’re really listening . . .
Encourage Exercise: Our teens already think too much, with teen anxiety and depression rates rising to an all-time high—they need to think a little less and get their bodies moving!
Hold Family Meetings-Don’t Make Them Guess: Your teens can guess if something is wrong but will do better if you’re open with them and show them that your family is strong and can work together to overcome the challenges, whatever they are
Balance Expectations for Productivity and Relaxation: We’re all under pressure so empathy and flexibility are our allies. Try to leave room for relaxation w/o judgment
Help Teens Contribute Inside and Outside Your Home: We all need to feel useful
Respect Your Teen’s Privacy: It’s developmentally necessary for them to have time to themselves, so show respect and don’t invade their privacy (unless something is truly wrong)
Build a Realistic Schedule that Your Teen Can Buy Into: Routines help align expectations and reduce anxiety, so long as everyone’s on board
How About a Weekly Family Fun Night? Movie night? Art project? Puzzles anyone? This is particularly helpful if parents have limited free time during the day
Play the “Parent Card”: Remember that you’re always the parent and you’re in charge, so don’t be afraid to play the “parent card” when you need to