In the blink of an eye, summer is on its way out and a new school year is on the horizon. That means it’s time to get adolescents and teens prepared for what’s ahead. But – if they’re like most kids out there – they have no interest in stopping the summer fun, and plan to soak up every last second.
Here are three ways caring adults can help teens enjoy the remainder of their summer and prepare for school without the stress.
Summer break often means the absence of routines for teens. That means sleeping in during the day, and staying up late at night. That type of schedule is not conducive to school success…and it takes time to shift back to regularly scheduled programming. What’s the solution? Slowly start moving back towards school routines. Establish a bedtime and wake up time, and shift it progressively to line up with the school schedule. Research says teens need 9 to 11 hours of sleep per night to sustain healthy cognitive, physical, and emotional development.
Example:
Week 1: Bedtime 11p, Wake up 9a
Week 2: Bedtime 10:30, Wake up 8:30a
Week 3: Bedtime 10, Wake up 8a
Week 4: Resume school schedule
Aside from sleep, other routines can be implemented to help teens practice responsibility ahead of school’s start. That can include making time each day to complete chores and any remaining summer school work before having leisure time. Chances are your adolescent may not be excited about changing their summer schedule, but research proves that stable and consistent routines improve the mental well-being of teenagers and promote pro-social behaviors including academic and professional success.
Adolescence is a pivotal time of cognitive, physical, social, emotional, and individual growth. Teens are primed to pull away from their caregivers and seek out independence at every turn. Life during the school year can seem less appealing to summer vacation — during the school year, they have less agency and choice around how they spend their time. And – at this stage of their life – it’s not developmentally appropriate for adolescents to have complete agency over their lives. It is the role of caring adults to enforce certain decisions around safety, school, house rules, etc. to support their growth. The degree of agency expands with age and competency. However, it is important for adults to give teens choice where appropriate; it increases confidence, ownership, determination, and prepares teens to handle adulthood. Examples regarding back-to-school prep could include: school outfits, school supplies, haircut, makeup, lunch items, sports, arts, extracurricular activities, school course, etc. This involvement may help the teen create positive associations with returning to school.
3. Make Space for Conversation
Starting the back to school could feel stressful for your adolescent. The reality of responsibilities, routines, and expectations can feel overwhelming coming out of a leisurely, carefree summer. A Pew Research study revealed 40% of parents with children under 18 say they are extremely worried their children will struggle with depression. Caring adults can provide a sense of safety and support for adolescents through emotional validation, open and nonjudgemental conversation, and active listening. See our articles on Active Listening (LINK) and Conversation Starters (LINK) for tips and support.
Are you a caring adult that wants to learn skills to help teens thrive? Check out our accredited courses and trainings for more information.
