Giving kids hope in tough times
It's been a rough year for teens.
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The pandemic has interfered with their education, kept them away from friends and relatives, and restricted where they can go and what they can do.
For bushfire-affected communities, this was a double blow after a devasting summer.
But parents can help:
- Keep a routine, with a mix of schoolwork, exercise, relaxing and connecting with loved ones.
- Use technology sensibly - keep devices out of bedrooms (especially at night), limit exposure to stressful news items, and use tech to catch up and enjoy fun activities, rather than 'scrolling'.
- Do things together, like going for a walk, cooking or kicking a footy.
- Point out the things they are doing well and the progress they've made.
- Remind your teens of how your family has gotten through tough times in the past.
- Confirm that it's OK to feel bad about the things they've lost this year, like parties, school formals or travel.
- Point out any 'silver linings' from 2020 - for example, spending more time with family or learning new tech skills.
- If they're worried about the future, talk through the steps they can take if things don't go perfectly, and help them draw up alternate plans.
