“Anchoring Teens In A Turbulent World: Positive Habits That Matter” is a collaborative post.
Asking, “Who is that stranger in my house?” is definitely among the most painful experiences a parent has to endure throughout their lifecycle. As shattering as it may be to witness and manage your kids’ transformation from innocent children to rebellious adolescents who deal with a seemingly unfillable void, this is the reality of many parents who go to sleep crying, suffocating to the belief they failed as mothers and fathers.
There is always light at the end of the tunnel; please stay strong.
Don’t trick yourself into believing that it is your fault because, most of the time, they imprison themselves in their way of figuring out the difference between an image and identity. Numerous adolescents get caught between two worlds – that of children who still need strong guidance and young adults who refuse to be questioned and told what to do- struggling for acceptance, seeking attention, and last but not least, dealing with hormonal changes. While it may be hard to anticipate when you’re entrenched in the challenge of dealing with a rebellious teen, you can equip them to resist weaknesses and temptations by cultivating a mindset of awareness, confidence, and creativity.
Keep them busy, motivated, and thirsty for knowledge and success.
Have You Ever Talked With Your Adolescents About The Power Of Habits?
If there is any silent architect that designs our identity, thoughts, actions, and overall personality, this is a habit. You should reinforce the idea that people are generally creatures and captives of their own habits to your kids, explaining how any frequent action can be formative and rule much of human behaviour. Habits are of paramount importance, and without them to rely on, your teenager might fall into self-harmful loops that eventually will alter their comfort, confidence, and competence. Despite vows and promises of change, once caught in harmful habits, teenagers become strangers, with the risk of never coming back to their old selves.
To avoid your kids entrapping in patterns of self-defeating behaviours, you must be honest from the very first day they gain the discernment to engage in a conversation to the last. Be open, honest, vulnerable, and transparent. Tell them stories about real-life – good and evil, blessings and consequences, joyous and challenging. Truth can significantly impact their emotional and cognitive development, teaching them when to go out, when to stay home, when to take a deep breath, and when to turn away.
Habits To Indulge In So Your Teenager Does Not Become A Stranger
See The World
Exploring the world with your kid can help them become more self-aware and grounded in the beauty of the present moment. Travelling encourages a sense of wonder and curiosity, offering the opportunity to discover new things, meet new people, taste delicious food, and make lasting memories they can revisit when feeling confined by their own minds. There is beauty in diversity, nature, culture, and humanity. Show your teenager how wonderful it feels to be in love with the sea, the stars, the luxurious fashion of Paris, the exclusive cheese of Italy, and the vivacious tango from Spain.
Go to the theatrical spectacles, ballet, or local symphony orchestra performances
These activities are not just entertaining; They are the key to more creative and communicative adolescents. Going to the theatre or opera can boost self-confidence and improve emotional intelligence and academic performance, offering teenagers an intimate and engaging look into life and themselves.
Gardening Projects Can Be Fun
Even though shovelling mulch and pulling weeds may not seem like a fantasy at first glance, gardening is truly a lovely activity that has proven very helpful in reducing the risk of depression and anxiety. Encouraging your teenagers to immerse themselves in the act of gardening will eventually help them bask in the beauty of nature, with all its color, aroma, and wildlife. According to Audrey Hepburn, to plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.
Game Nights Are Definitely a YES
You can build a special bond with your teenager by hosting frequent game nights and getting to know each other on a deeper level. Here are some of the best night games that are anything but boring:
- Exploding Kittens.
- Smart Ass.
- Codenames.
- Kids Against Maturity.
- Bad People.
- Poetry for Netherlands.
Cook Meals Together (disastrous or not)
Cooking as a family activity shouldn’t always be organized or comestible. It is a fun activity and a great opportunity to learn skills through failure. It can foster creativity and imagination, challenging your kids’ minds to do better. After all, why spend so much time designing your kitchen when you’re never using it with your child? Although they may leave a complete disaster after their first attempts, they will eventually learn and won’t become like those individuals who are in their 20s and still unable to make a sandwich.
Art Can Challenge The Mind
Art can do wonders for the human brain, urging the wish for something far greater. Whether you look at a painting or create one of yourself, art is the window of the soul. It can transcend your teenager to spectacular times in history, pointing to something beyond the picture and the one who made it. It points to yourself, helping you discover feelings and thoughts you never acknowledged or recognized. Art is a window that enables you to breathe when the room of your mind is too small and the feelings of your heart are too much. Art is everything.
Final Thoughts
In short, keeping teens anchored means teaching them to romanticize life – like dreaming of Paris, finding beauty in the ordinary, envisioning a future full of possibility and adventure, and recognizing that even the simplest moments hold immense value and potential. Teach them that, contrary to what society promotes, destructiveness is not the only way to manage your emotions.
