Today I’m sharing some hard-earned tips on how to help your teen be happy.
Any parent knows that parenting a teen can feel like riding a unicycle blindfold. On the one hand we need to help them become independent and learn about taking risks and living with consequences. On the other hand, we want to protect them from stress and anxiety and spiralling into depression and harmful behaviour.
It’s a lot. For me, and for my teen.
So here are five ideas you might like to try to help your teen be happy, and perhaps a bit less stressed, and calmer!
Be Happy, Be You
There are so many things I love about this new book by parent bloggers Penny Alexander and Becky Goddard-Hill. One of my favourite parts is where the book breaks down what happiness actually is.
Be Happy Be You points out that interior happiness might come from a short, pleasant sensation, an absorbing activity, or a positive purpose. I particularly loved that this encourages teens to feel that they have some control over their own happiness. It’s very empowering.
It’s a chapter book that combines mindfulness and relaxation activities with practical tips for teens on dealing with common family, social and school issues.
It’s a pretty light read, with a friendly, accessible style. There’s nothing here that’s too adult or dark, and the book is definitely suitable for younger teens.
The book explains the science of wellbeing in clear language, with practical tips on things like communication techniques for troublesome parents, and improving the quality of your sleep. There are exercises to help kids put the techniques into action, from simple meditations to writing prompts to help boost body confidence. It is a great way to help your teen be happy in their everyday life.
Celebrate Success
I think modern life often encourages teens to aim for very high standards and it’s only natural for them to feel low if they can’t meet them. Teenage girls in particular are expected to do well in school, be popular, have a boyfriend, have a great social media profile, be in the RIGHT sports team or club, and look amazing. It’s a LOT.
While I don’t congratulate Flea for getting up and dressing herself, I do make a point of looking for things I can compliment her on doing well. My daughter is doing really well in her maths right now, working through an online revision programme. She does a great job of walking our dog. She is really understanding and supportive of some of my frustrations at work and gives great advice.
If Flea has an issue at school I tend not to mention it if I don’t need to. Our motto is, “That’s a teacher problem”.
My job isn’t to discipline Flea for school issues she’s already dealt with – it’s my job to be her cheerleader when she gets home, and remind her she can do whatever she puts her mind to.
Regular Exercise
Teens are bombarded by stress and hormones and challenges on a daily basis. That’s why I’m so passionate about my teen taking part in regular sport.
Those endorphins are great happy-makers, and exercise also helps to reduce overall stress, and improve kids’ physical confidence. If you want to help your teen be happy, encourage them to get active!
Don’t assume that your teen is getting enough sport at school. Teens are notorious for not joining extra-curricular clubs, and well, we’ve all had PE teachers who are less than inspiring in our time.
Explore out of school sports and clubs. Flea plays hockey for a local club, meaning practice once a week and matches most weekends. She also has a young adult membership at our local health club, and tries to go to a spinning class weekly. The music and younger crowd makes this feel “cool” and there’s no pressure to chat to anyone during a spinning class!
Relaxation Techniques
One of the biggest challenges for teens in 2020, I think, is that they’re always ON. Being connected to social media all day means you never fully escape the pressures of popularity, peer groups and teen girl power plays.
One thing we’ve worked on is relaxation techniques when Flea feels overwhelmed. Sometimes it’s as simple as taking a bubble bath with a relaxing bath oil and candle, and doing some breathing exercises. It’s not just about deep breaths – I think that can make some people feel worse – but focusing on measured breaths in and out, and allowing your body to calm to a more natural rhythm.
I also bough Flea the de-stress set from NEOM, which includes a scent that can be applied to pulse points when you’re stressed, using essential oils to help teens feel calmer and happier.
Giving Back
A really important way to help your teen be happy (or happier) is giving them the opportunity to have a broader purpose and feel part of something bigger. Getting teens involved in service to the community can also help to put some of those teen dramas and worries into perspective.
I’m involved in the Scouts as an adult leader, and Flea always enjoys coming and helping at events for our Beaver Scouts. I also encourage her to get involved in our local beach clean-ups and fundraising projects at school. Last term, Flea was involved in helping out the school drama club with set painting. It’s a small thing, but every gesture gives kids opportunities to have purpose and to feel they’ve made a valued contribution to someone else.
What tips do you have to help your teen be happy?
Thanks for sharing out r book sally and being part of the book tour…much appreciated and glad you both like it x
This is really interesting. My daughter (nearly 13) seems to be having issues with certain ‘friends” lately so today I made a point of just the 2 of us going cycling. I also put the healthy snacks back in the fridge (carrot sticks and grapes, for some reason we stopped organising this over Christmas but it’s far better for all of us not to have so much chocolate. She wanted to lie down on my bed with me and chat, which we do sometimes and also did last night. And we did some dafting around, dancing and singing, along with her brother. We also went to church this morning; she’s an altar server and . very popular. Just hope she’s all right when tomorrow comes again and it’s back to school!
Nice sharing! I often encourage my daughter to pursue her interests that make her happy, try to do kid things with her and let her share what she has to say. By listening to her, I learn about the thought process of the next generation and how they feel ad it also gives her space to vent out. Sometimes, I listen to her songs and shake a leg with her. All these makes ‘US’ happy!
I have shared my thoughts on raising kids here, if you like- https://perspectiveofdeepti.blogspot.com/2018/03/raising-your-daughter-in-her-tween-years.html