8min read
Teenagers and risky behaviour- Getting through the teenage years together
Download our leaflet to help you talk to your teens about risky behaviour
8min read
Here we share some wellbeing strategies for children and teenagers that we can also adopt ourselves as parents.
At any age, positive wellbeing enables us to:
This doesn’t mean we will only ever be happy, as life will always give us some challenges, but it enables us to cope with challenges in life in a practical and productive way.
Let your children know you are there for them when they want to talk to you about how they are feeling. It may be a big decision for them to open up about their worries and anxieties so ensure you give them the space, time and attention. If you are in the middle of something and you can’t stop what you are doing there and then, let your child know a time later that day when you are able to give them your full attention.
Older children and teenagers may prefer to have a journal or notebook they can write in. Maybe they can set aside some time when they get home from school to write their thoughts down. This should remain private to them unless they choose to discuss it with you.
Encourage your child to reflect on what they would say to a friend who is struggling with something similar, as this provides the opportunity to practise more positive self-talk. Younger children may prefer to draw their feelings in their journal. Encourage them to express themselves however they feel on that day.
If you would like further support and advice, call our helpline on 0808 800 2222 or email us at askus@familylives.org.uk. You can talk to us online via our live chat service, which is open, Monday to Friday between 10.30am and 9pm. You may find it helps to find out how other parents and carers have coped with this on our online forums. We also have a range of free online parenting courses that can help through the ages and stages of parenting.
Your child may find it helpful to visit the Childline website or Young Minds
Give us a Shout provides support to young people if they are struggling with their mental health 24/7 via a text service.
Visit the NHS website
Visit the Mind website
Better Your Life support teens and adults with anxiety
This article was written by Jennifer Roblin, an anxiety relief therapist and confidence coach at Better Your Life.
Download our leaflet to help you talk to your teens about risky behaviour