Tip Tuesday
Help Your Teen Deal With End-of-Year Stress
Your teen has an English test tomorrow and a history paper is due next week. In addition to all of this, the science teacher just assigned a huge group project and your teen just got a call for a summer job interview on Saturday. No wonder your teen is stressed!
The end of a school year is often a time when students feel overwhelmed. And, since stressed teens are rarely at their best, that can lead them to perform below their capabilities.
The good news is that there are ways you can help your teen deal with any stress that comes this time of the year. You can:
- Listen to your teen. Sometimes, just giving your teen a chance to let off steam can be helpful. Don’t try to “fix” the problems. Just let your teen talk and really listen to them.
- Encourage your teen to find solutions. Ask questions to help your teen figure out ways to work through the problem. Has your teen created a study schedule? Is it possible to reschedule the interview? Teens are more likely to stick with a solution if they developed it.
- Teach some stress relievers. Taking a few deep breaths before an exam or a job interview can make your teen feel more in control. A brief walk outside can help regain focus and eating a healthy snack will gives energy to keep going. High-caffeine energy drinks should be avoided because they can cause more agitation.
- Make sure your teen gets plenty of sleep. Teens needs sleep in order to be at their best. A lack of it only heightens the effects of stress.
Source: The Parent Institute
|
|