In this article
This global pandemic has had a profound effect on the entire world, in every industry, across all demographics. Parents of teens who, as a result of COVID-19, have been on lockdown since March may be concerned about their high school's reopening. They also may be concerned about how current events might be affecting their teenager's mental health.
Families are now tasked with making important schooling decisions in the coming days and weeks. More important, they also may be looking for ways to provide their teen with the support needed to maintain their mental health.
What high school reopening might look like this year
Education administrators across the country are working out final plans for school reopening. In the meantime, parents and students remain on standby. Will teens take online classes, head back into high schools that are reopening, or a hybrid of both?
Gina Lincicum, a mom of two freshmen and a senior, told Mom.com about the options her teen's school offered. "We were given a choice: two days in-person with two days asynchronous, to include videos and independent work, or four days virtual with basically the same schedule as before."
For some teens, a mix of online virtual learning coupled with in-person classes is the best option. Both academically and for their mental health, many are choosing the hybrid option. Parents are doing their best to accommodate their children's needs while still ensuring that their decision is the safest one possible.
Kita Bryant is unsure where her child will be going to school in the fall, but is hoping for a hybrid schedule. "I don't know where I'm sending mine as of yet, but if he gets accepted into a private school that I'm looking at, it will be virtual four days a week with one day to come in for tests," she told Mom.com. "I think having online classes with his daily class will help him, and going to school once a week with CDC guidelines in place would be great for his mental health."
In the early days of lockdown, some schools and families struggled for weeks to get everything up and running smoothly. This uncertainty proved detrimental for some students. Elisa Cullen's teen will be taking virtual online classes. "This school year will be more structured for virtual students, which is OK as expectations are consistent. I believed it when he was an infant, and I believe it now as a teen, that a routine schedule and some structure is important to be successful in this situation," she said to Mom.com.
Supporting your teenager's mental health as they return to school during the pandemic
The school environment during the teen years are tumultuous to begin with, throwing a global pandemic into the mix, and the results could be a recipe for disaster. Supporting your teenager's mental health during this time is key. Despite how grown-up they may feel or say they want to be treated, ultimately your teen is looking to you for support.
Parents are reminded to check in with their teens regularly. Keeping an eye out for mood changes or behavioral changes is imperative. Similarly, changes in sleep habits and lack of personal hygiene can indicate anxiety or depression. The Centers for Disease Control advises parents should keep the lines of communication open and be aware of the suicide risk in teens.
Robin Gurwitch, Ph.D, a professor in psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Duke University, recently shared his thoughts about the importance of being honest and open about the pandemic and its ramifications. "I think first and foremost, parents and caregivers need to talk to their children and their teens. Don’t wait for them to bring it up," he told the American Association for the Advancement of Science. "Even preschool children have heard of the coronavirus. If you haven’t already done so, our advice is to take a breath and start the conversation."
A key piece of the puzzle of parenting a child at any age is to meet them where they are. Let your child lead the conversation. This will better equip you with the tools you need to help them through a difficult situation. "By listening, you will hear their understanding, and you will be able to gently correct any misinformation and misconceptions [sic] that they may have about the disease," Gurwitch continued.
You set the tone of your home
The CDC also reminds parents that they set the tone in the home, so while it's important to be realistic with your teens, keeping an upbeat attitude and expressing hope for the future can help them process current events in a healthy way.
Jennifer Auer is also doing what she can to support her teenager's mental health. "I am trying to make sure he doesn't spend too much time staring at screens, by making sure he works out every day. I'm also going to try to get back to getting out of the house a few days a week," she told Mom.com.
Note: If you or any of your loved ones are struggling with suicidal thoughts, you can always reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by calling 1-800-273-8255. They are available 24/7 by phone or online chat.
Encourage teens to maintain friendships while social distancing
Whether your child returns to a regular classroom or continues online learning, socializing with their friends during the school year will continue to look very different. Get-togethers, clubs, and parties will most likely be on hold. But it's still important for teens to keep up friendships and maintain social contacts.
Socializing while social distancing for teens can be done. Virtual book clubs, online Zoom meetups, watching movies with the Netflix Party app, and playing popular games like Animal Crossing with their friends online are easy ways to remain social while staying safe.
This is uncharted territory for everyone, and parents are trying to figure out how to let teens socialize safely. This is true even for families who homeschooled prior to the pandemic. Traditional homeschooling families, for years, have been taken to task on the subject of socialization, but homeschoolers would usually spend quite a bit of time out in the community on a regular basis, prior to COVID-19.
No matter which type of schooling option they choose, socialization is possible. It just may take some out-of-the-box thinking to ensure your teenager's mental health and safety.
Getting through to a teen who won't practice social distancing
Stressing the importance of social distancing to teens can pose a problem for some parents. In this often naturally rebellious stage, they may intentionally try to assert their independence by violating any house rules parents have put in place. It may be especially difficult to convince teens who are naturally social to adhere to social distancing guidelines, and this may be compounded if they have friends and classmates who are being allowed to gather and socialize by parents who are not enforcing rules.
Touting facts and figures from the CDC likely won’t resonate with your teen, so consider meeting your child where they are: on TikTok. Content creators like thenavarose and Zoe Laverne are popular with teens and promote mask wearing and social distancing. nabela chronicles her battle with and recovery from COVID-19, and the #ownthecurve and #stayathome hashtag campaigns encouraged followers to practice physical distancing. Even scientist Bill Nye posted a popular video on the science behind the benefits of mask wearing.
Apart from that, modeling the behavior you expect from your teens is key. You likely don’t text and drive because you want to make sure your kids won’t. Similarly, practicing social distancing yourself sends the message that it’s important to you. Keeping the lines of communication open is also important. Talk with your teen to see if you can agree on acceptable socially distant activities they can do virtually with their friends or by themselves.
