Here are a few ways that your family can help your adolescent feel supported and loved.
- Establish family rituals and traditions, such as family meetings, game nights, seasonal outings, shared meals, or whatever brings your family together at a predictable time and place. For adolescents dealing with a lot of changes in their bodies, social lives, and responsibilities, family rituals can provide comfort and structure – something safe and consistent to come home to.
- Give your kids hugs, even if they’re already taller than you.
- Create a small memory book, memory box, or private website for each of your children to track their growth and celebrate their successes.
- If you don’t live in the same city as your child, send a care package which includes a deck of cards, a book of crosswords or other puzzles, and some colourful pens.
- If you have more than one teenager, take time out of every week to spend time with each of them individually. Sibling dynamics can be complicated, and each of your children should be reminded that they are loved and supported as individuals.
Search Institute has identified 40 building blocks of healthy development, known as Developmental Assets, that help adolescents to grow up healthy, caring, and responsible. Visit us here every Wednesday to read about different ways that you, your family, and your community can take action to help equip our young people develop resilience and achieve success in life.
Phoenix Education Foundation 