The teenage years are often fraught with challenges at school, at home, with parents and friends. Here are a few simple tips for helping your teenager do well at school this year:
- Talk to your teenage son/daughter about their school work, and help them to plan their workload and prioritise.
- Be available to talk when they want to (remember sometimes they won't want to talk at the same time that you do!) Often they just need you to be a good listener - this can be harder than it sounds!
- Try to resist passing judgement or blame when talking about tough issues.
- Find some time in each others' busy schedules for doing fun things together.
- Keep up with things going on in your teenager’s life, school or circle of friends. You will be more likely to be aware of some of the issues they may be facing such as bullying, self-esteem, drug & alcohol use, etc.
- Encourage healthy eating, plenty of exercise and establish a good sleep routine.
- Encourage your teenager to learn some relaxation skills which is vital during stressful times- teach them about deep breathing, mindfulness, meditation, using exercise as a way to relax, positive self-talk, etc.
- Talk openly about social media and how it may be affecting them - both positively and negatively. Support a reasonable usage of social media as it's not all bad all the time!
- Talk about their dreams and ambitions for life beyond school and support them to plan their future.
Remember too that if your teenager is not talking to you and you are worried about them there are plenty of great services out there for young people including Headspace, KidsHelpline and Reachout.com. Check out the websites for information and guidance on how to access help if needed.
