Parental Support

What Can Parents Do to Support Their Teens?

As a parent, it’s important to understand the impact of social media on your teen’s mental health and take steps to support them. Here are some tips for parents:

• Set boundaries. It’s important to set limits and boundaries when it comes to your teen’s social media use. This can include limiting screen time, setting a curfew for social media use, and monitoring their online activity. It’s also important to have open and honest conversations with your teen about the potential negative effects of social media and the importance of taking breaks from technology.
• Encourage face-to-face interactions. One of the biggest draws of social media for teens is the social aspect. Encourage your teen to engage in face-to-face interactions with their friends and family. This can help reduce their reliance on social media for social interactions and improve their overall well-being.
• Monitor their mental health. Pay attention to your teen’s mental health and look for signs of anxiety, depression or other mental health issues. If you notice any concerning changes in their behavior, seek professional help.
• Be a positive role model. As a parent, it’s important to lead by example. Be mindful of your own social media use and how it may be impacting your mental health. Show your teen the importance of taking breaks from technology and engaging in face-to-face interactions.

• Set good example of how to use tech. Try to give kids your full attention when you are with them, and establish tech-free zones in in the house and tech-free hours when no one is on their phones.

• Get kids involved in something they’re interested in. When kids learn to feel good about what they can do instead of how they look and what they own, they’re happier and have higher self esteem.