Supporting Your Teen in Challenging Times

Written by Doug Couch

Wednesday, 15 April 2009 01:48

Teens today are no stranger to feeling the stresses of the downtrodden cultural and economic environment we are living in today. Similar to adults, teens are affected by the world and environment in which they live, and sometimes it can be difficult for parents to connect with them about what is really going on.

Unlike any generation before them, today's teens are growing up faster and more educated than ever. With the advent of new media technologies such as social networking websites, text messaging, and 24-hour news sources, kids today are much better informed and far more opinionated about the world events taking place inside and outside of their lives. In fact, for some teens, the more they learn about what is happening in the world, the more resentment they gain for previous generations. As Billy Joel said, "We didn't start the fire, it was always burning since the world has been turning." Teens today feel as though they will one day be called on to extinguish the flames of the previous generations.

How can we help teens cope with the environmental stresses of challenging cultural times? It all begins and ends with communication. Everything speaks, and even when we don't think something speaks, it does. Everything we do, say, even wear, at any given time, sends a message to the people and world around us about who we are. No communication is ever neutral, but is either positive or negative.

Parents serve as media gatekeepers to their teens, and in this way, the first thing parents can do to help their teens cope is to be aware. By maintaining awareness of their teens' surroundings, the media they pay attention to, and the conversations they experience, parents can better address and explain the ways of the world to their teen. Television news today, which is the most common place for teens to receive media news, can at times take a rather heavy tone. It is not uncommon for teens to feel information overload when they are surrounded by so many sources of media. When parents help their teens process media information, they can keep their teens positive and prevent bad news from bringing down their psyche.

Another great tool is to monitor the conversations we have with others in the presence of our teens. It's no surprise that teens today are masters of assumption, and when they overhear conversations, especially one-sided phone conversations, they can easily catastrophise the blanks. Teens are masters of extremes. By being aware of the conversations we have in the presence of our kids, parents can reduce the amount of stress that teens can place upon themselves.

Knowledge is also a powerful fuel. By providing information for their teen, and filling them in on what is happening in the world around them, parents will help their teens garner a much stronger understanding of the world around them. Simply asking, "What questions do you have about what is going on?" is a fantastic way to get the ball rolling. Once the conversation is going, parents can then distinguish the differences between facts and opinions so that teens can come to their own unbiased conclusions.

Being the model in the middle is also a great way to help teens cope with their environment. Teens are constantly looking for role models, and by giving them hope, we create mental pictures about positive outcomes. When parents hold themselves accountable for their own positive energy, it sends the message we want them to learn, and the power to lift teens up as well. This in return will keep parents feeling joyous and empowered.

About the Author:

SuperCamp is a summer enrichment camp that has been helping kids and teens gain valuable learning and life skills for over 27 years. Want to learn more ways to help your son or daughter through the rough economic times? Listen to this free teleseminar for parents with SuperCamp founder Bobbi DePorter to learn tips on how to support them through the hard times.

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