Being a teen is hard. It has always been hard, but it seems especially difficult in today's world. Fortunately, it doesn't have to be quite as hard as it seems on the surface.
And it's all up to you as your teen's parent to help!
Even if your teen seems like they could care less, you can still have a huge impact on their healthy development when you follow these tips.
Protect Against Concussions
Being active is important. Teens who participate in sports or have active hobbies are more likely to feel supported by their peers, and it helps keep them physically fit. Teens who make exercise a part of their daily routine early in life are more likely to stick with it as they age.
That doesn't mean playing sports and being active is all good news. If your child plays a contact sport, like football or ice hockey, or they enjoy extreme sports, like skateboarding or BMX biking, you have to protect them from getting a concussion.
Just one concussion can disrupt a person's ability to function in everyday life. It can have lasting consequences for teens, especially because their brains are still developing.
Ask your child's coach what they're doing to help prevent concussions. You may want to consider encouraging your child to play a different position on the team or you may want to buy them a heavy-duty helmet for them to wear when they're biking.
Eat Meals Together
One of the easiest ways you can support your teen's development is to eat meals together. It comes with some surprising benefits that include:
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It expands their vocabulary as they speak with adults
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Teens are twice as likely to get A's in school
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It's less likely that your teen will participate in high risk behaviors
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Teens are more likely to experience positive moods
Another major benefit of sharing a meal together involves the meal itself. Many family meals are home cooked, which means your child is more likely to eat healthy. Kids who eat dinner with their families regularly tend to eat more fruit and vegetables. In addition, they're also less likely to be picky eaters.
Get Involved at School
When your child reaches their teenage years, they can mostly handle school themselves. However, just because they can doesn't mean they should.
No matter how young or old your child, they will always benefit from parental engagement. When you're involved in your student's school life, they are more likely to achieve more, get higher grades, and make better transitions when it's time to move to high school or college.
What does it mean to be involved? You don't have to volunteer at the school or develop personal relationships with their teachers, both of which your teen is likely to be embarrassed about. Instead, being involved simply means communicating high expectations, asking them to show you what they're learning in one of their classes, and checking in with them regularly about their latest test scores.
Keep an Eye on Social Media Use
Social media can be a great thing. It can help your child stay connected to others, but it also has plenty of dangers too. It's not something you want your teen handling on their own.
There are multiple ways to support healthy social media habits that don't involve you snooping around or creating heavy-handed rules. It starts by teaching them the ropes, like not friending strangers and thinking twice before hitting enter. Show them how to adjust their privacy settings so they can customize their social media experience, and of course, model healthy social media behavior yourself.
Encourage Their Passions
You may have dreams for your child, but it's much more important to support your child's dreams, even if they seem a bit outlandish. If they're interested in playing a sport, sign them up. If they like art, sign them up for a class at the local art museum.
If your child is struggling to find something they're passionate about, help them find it. Watch what your child does in their spare time and make a mental note every time they come alive when doing an activity or talking about a specific topic. Ask them if they would like to try a new activity and if they say no, offer to try it with them!
Your teen's development relies on many factors. From food to exercise to social media, there are many ways you can support your teen as they make the transition to adulthood.
