How To Help Your Troubled Teen Stay Positive In Rough Times


Parents sometimes wonder how they can effectively help their adolescent through the teen years, which are admittedly fraught with hormones and drama. Teens deal with homework, conflicts with teachers, academic pressures, worries about the future and even stress at home. A positive attitude goes a long way toward teaching your young person how to be successful in life. Apply the following tips to help your troubled teen learn how to be positive.

Emphasize the Positive

Your teen legitimately needs to vent about the struggles he is facing, but he also needs to think about the positive aspects of his life. Validate his feelings and mirror back conversations to show your concern. Don’t dismiss what your son shares. The fact that he is open and honest means that he trusts you. These are milestones to celebrate! Instead, ask about something positive that happened so that he can spend some time smiling or laughing and reflecting on good parts of his life.

Look for Activities that Interest Him

To say that each child is different is a huge understatement. Whether it’s academics, sports, band, clubs or some type of niche activity, your son needs to find something that will grab and hold his interest. Volunteer work or student government might provide further outlets for your teen. Whatever the case, your son will have something to look forward to each day, which can help him stay positive.

Teach Him how to Problem Solve

Your son might not know how to deal with a problem or might be embarrassed to remedy the situation. Model problem-solving skills so that he can learn what to do to correct the issue. Your kids learn the most from your example.

Help Your Son Make a Difference

When your son has a purpose that’s larger than he is, he will be able to focus on the big picture. Instead of being introspective, he can look for ways to reach out and help others, such as serving at a food bank or volunteering with struggling children. You can bring him into the kitchen to help you prepare meals or baked goods for other people. Serving others, together, will help you develop a better bond and will also teach your son ways to forget his own struggles while focusing on other peoples needs.

Teach Your Son to Set Goals

Setting goals and writing them down can help a teen realize the value of persistence and accomplishment. Work with him on both short- and long-term goals. Create goals that are realistic and attainable. Start small and work your way up to long term or more challenging goals.

Cultivate Gratefulness

According to Forbes Magazine, gratefulness offers many benefits for adults and teens alike. Some of the benefits of being thankful include:

1. Improved relationships and new friendships – Demonstrating appreciation to others can strengthen relationships and cause a new acquaintance to seek you out for friendship.

2. Better physical health – Thankful people deal with less aches and pains and generally report better health than those who are not grateful.

3. Stronger mental health – Thankfulness combats toxic feelings, reduces depression and boosts overall happiness. Grateful people also overcome trauma more effectively.

4. Reduced aggression – Grateful people encourage prosocial behavior, even if those around them are less than kind.

5. Better sleep – Thankful people rest more deeply and longer, especially those who keep gratitude journals.

6. Improved self-esteem – Gratitude boosts overall self-esteem, which helps with sports and other performance-oriented activities.

Speak Your Mind