The beginning of a new school year is always exciting- but can also be fraught with worry and stress. From finding people to sit with at lunch, to mastering a new schedule and balancing homework, jobs, and school activities, starting school can be a tough time for your teen(s).
According to a recent survey, 43% of 13-14 year-olds say they feel stressed every single day. By ages 15-17, the number rises to 59%. A certain amount of stress can be helpful as a way of keeping your teen motivated. BUT too much or too little can render them ineffectively and interfere with their relationships at home and at school, as well as their physical health. Without having learned proper coping mechanisms, many teens find their own ways to deal with stress, sometimes taking on risky behaviors.
Here are some tips and things you can do to help your teen(s) cope with school-related stress in positive ways:
1. Recognize when your teens are stressed out. Make sure your teen is getting adequate rest by sleeping at least 8 hours each night. Make sure your teen is also eating well-balanced meals and that they are taking breaks to restore their energy.
2. Introduce positive coping strategies to your teen. Talk to your teen about new and positive coping strategies such as introducing a balance in their lives. This could be things as simple as exercising, getting enough sleep, listening to music, writing in a journal, or keeping a healthy diet.
3. Set a good example. It is very important that you, as a parent, model healthy coping behaviors because young people often pick their coping strategies by watching their parents. If a child sees a parent drink an alcoholic beverage or smoke a cigarette every time they feel overwhelmed, they are more likely to imitate those negative behaviors.