Our collective understanding of mental health is at an all-time high. Crucially, we are far more open to the fact that teenagers regularly encounter issues that harm their mental wellbeing. Given that we can’t physically see inside a child’s head, staying responsive to the signs that that have an issue should be high on the agenda. I know it’s certainly a key feature of mine.
Young minds are very impressionable, perhaps more so during their teen years. The harsh reality is that body image will play a central role. As mentioned in my guide to raising body confident kids, you must accept that the media, their peers, and human nature will all influence their minds. There’s no competition for your child to be deemed more attractive than any of their friends. They simply need to feel confident in their skin. When they are, their mental health will remain in a far better place.
The link between physical attributes and mental health cannot be ignored. In addition to body image, your teen needs to stay physically healthy. Of course, it is very easy for them to become couch potatoes, especially after the pandemic. As a parent, you need to actively encourage productive physical exercises. Whether it’s playing sports, joining a dance club, or attending the gym doesn’t matter. Increased physical activity will release endorphins to boost their mental wellness. Moreover, seeing progress in their activity will naturally increase their confidence.
Self-confidence is crucial for your teen’s mental health, not only because it enables them to follow their
own path. While you can’t force who your child befriends, knowing that they are mixing with the right
crowd will have a telling influence. Meanwhile, you should know that the information they are exposed
to online can have a massive impact.
The best parenting technique is to monitor child’s phone with Family Orbit This allows them to retain a sense of privacy while you can be sure that they aren’t opening the door to
abuse or negativity
That’s not to suggest that online interactions are the enemy. Far from it. I know that our household has
benefited greatly from online interactions, particularly over the last 18 months. From video calls to online
gaming, your teen can use modern tech to stay connected with their friends.
Likewise, they can find like-minded people that enjoy the niche fashion styles or hobbies that they love.
Feeling connected to a group can bring a lot of peace to their lives.
Nevertheless, it’s important to ensure that your child remains focused on themselves.
Comparing themselves to others can develop a very negative mindset. Not least because they will look
for the best in others and the worst in themselves.
The Net Doctor guide explains the downsides of comparisons to people on social media in further detail. In short, though, the problem is that people post their highlights rather than the reality.
As such, people are used to seeing a person’s destination than the journey and struggles to get there. It can lead teens to expect an easy road to success. When it doesn’t arrive, they can feel inferior and
unsatisfied.
Finally, kids will always look to their parents. Now, from personal experience, this is the hardest step of
all. However, leading by example is vital, take the steps needed to maintain your mental health and
success will soon follow.
