This pandemic has changed our kids. It’ll be a while before we learn the long-term impact the pandemic has had on Gen Z, but some things are easy to observe already.
Many teens and tweens, particularly those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds and with fewer resources, fell behind academically in major ways. The pandemic acted like an accelerator button for challenges. Whether it’s anxiety, focus and attention, or family conflict, whatever problems existed before the pandemic, likely got worse during it.
I recently had the opportunity to get back in the studio at AMNW to share some thoughts about how we can help our kids get back on track and improve their mental and emotional well-being, post pandemic (feel free to skip ahead to watch the clip).
I shared 5 things our kids need to get back on track and improve their mental and emotional well-being.
Patience and acceptance. Change and growth is not linear. It’s important to accept where our kids are and not dwell on where we wish they were. Every kid is on a slightly different path. Avoid comparing your child to others. Their brain isn’t fully mature until about 25, so there’s plenty of time.
Physical activity. There’s no better antidepressant. Finding the right fit for your child is key. Help them figure out what’s best for them by focusing on: What (Walking, skating, dancing, lifting, etc.)? Where (Basement, bedroom, gym, backyard, school, park, etc.)? How often? How long? Then make this a non-negotiable expectation.
Sleep. Teens need 9 plus hours. Sleep deprivation is the number one environmental contributor to learning challenges and mental health issues. Sleep isn’t an all or nothing endeavor. Every 20 minutes makes a difference.
Connection. Having at least one or two close friends and one healthy connection with an adult is an essential component of good mental health. A positive relationship with at least one parent, boosts resilience, immune functioning, and cognitive skills.
Focused attention. identifying activities that they can engage with undivided attention that they choose and enjoy. Video games are the go to in this area for so many teens. But they need other outlets as well. Sports, playing music, a good book, art, building something, an engaging class, are other meaningful examples.
In the likely event that your child isn’t hitting all these benchmarks, don’t sweat it, you’re like most of us. But I hope you’ll stick with it. It’s important to be clear about your expectations while also being patient and creative about how those expectations get implemented. I’m hopeful that, over time, our teens and tweens will come out of this pandemic more resilient and confident than they were when they came in.
