Every parent wants the best for their kids, doing everything they can to ensure they live happy and fulfilling childhoods. However, it can often feel like things are out of your control here, their anxiety levels being one of them.
Unfortunately, there are many influences on children that negatively affect their wellbeing today. For example, social media has long been a key player in this, alongside a lack of sleep too. Still, you are unlikely to be successful in removing social media from their life entirely, and they may be too old for bedtimes. Easing the anxiety elsewhere could help, giving them alternatives to social media use and helping them to rest at day’s end.
Therefore, here are 4 ways to help you take the anxiety out of your teen’s life.
Encourage Exercise
Much of life can be what one makes it, and exercise proves that better than almost anything else. The great thing about this kind of activity is that it is open to all, and if your children put the work in, they will see results.
Exercise is vital for improving your child’s overall wellbeing, particularly during a pandemic period when they are in a funk that is hard to break out of. It clears the mind, purging any feelings of negativity within them via healthy and easily accessible means. Remember, it is not about becoming the family athlete, but simply developing their interests and keeping them active.
Staying active will also present your child with objectives to work toward and this sense of purpose is great for easing signs of anxiety. This should hopefully give structure to their day, rooting them in the present. It may even boost their aptitude for appreciating what they have, especially when they feel a daily sense of accomplishment.
Insure Their Things
Your child no doubt has a favorite hobby, but that does not necessarily mean they are not anxious when partaking in it. In fact, hobbies can be a source of stress, in a strange sort of way.
For example, if your kid is into sports, you may have invested a great deal of money into their equipment. Damages and theft can be more emotionally punishing in this context, because replacements do not come cheap. It would be a great shame for your child’s passions in life to have a black cloud hovering over them, so perhaps you could remove some of the anxiety here.
If they frequently ride the latest and greats e-bikes, then electric bike insurance from Velosurance can provide a care-free cycling experience. It will cover every eventuality in the book, such as theft, damage, and liability. They are also cyclists too, so they know exactly what you all need. In the end, this arrangement may help your child feel more ‘grown up’ too, protecting their interests in a formal, secure manner.
Partake In Their Pastimes
There can often between a stark divide between the interests of the child and the parent. Eventually, they may share little in common, which makes it more difficult to tap into what is bothering them and get on their level.
If your child frequently plays video games alone, for instance, it could be a good idea to join them as Player 2, or simply watch them and ask good questions to show your interest. Talking about the things that make them happy with an interested party could be enough to distract them from their woes, at least temporarily. If they feel down and invisible, a simple discussion around the things they love can change everything.
After all, it can be nice feeling to tell-all about a long fascinating subject. They might not get an opportunity to discuss their pastimes in rich detail elsewhere, so letting them express their passion with you could life their spirits and show that what they love to do matters. If you are not interested in the pastime on its own terms, be interested in what your child gets out of it.
Change Your Behavior
When parents spot something wrong in their child’s life, they can try to change their child’s outlook so that they are better equipped to deal with the situation at hand. While your intentions might be sound in this scenario, your efforts could be doing more harm than good.
Unfortunately, many children are struggling a great deal already, and if your child is one of them it is important to be tactful. Try to sensitively work out what is wrong. Even friendly words of advice can just tip them overboard slightly, especially if friends, family members, or teachers are lecturing them enough already. When the timing is right, they will come to you.
If you still want to do something, then wordless gestures will be far more poignant in showing you care without bombarding them with endless interrogations. You could leave a favorite snack outside their door, make their favorite meal, or change the TV channel to the one they love. If you can show that you are willing to adapt your behavior to meet their mood, and simultaneously demonstrate that you know them well, you may get the results you are hoping for and help ease their anxiety.