If we could look for problems people face all the time, and try to dramatically solve it, we are going to make an impact. Teenager parents are not alone in the challenge of the terrible eating and sleeping patterns of their children and their close-to-depression stressful state. Is this something that technology or app. can improve dramatically? Can there be games that can only go to the next level when the teens are sleeping soundly and eating well?
In
this “Wellness Panel for Parents (of the teens)” with high school principal, assistant principal, a doctor and a psychologist on the panel, they share their thoughts on the many challenges facing parents and their teens. Many teenagers sleep far less than the recommended 8 to 9 hours. The pattern starts with a lack of enthusiasm in school (subjects), the stress to have to do well in grades, the mountains of homework and reading, puberty effect and the transition towards adulthood. These difficulties breed avoidance – when the school hours are over, the teens d
ecompress through games, internet, napping or other things but school work. As they start on homework in the late night, they finish by early morning, and in 5 hours or so, they are on the way to school again, totally sleep deprived and often without a decent breakfast. In the intertwining relationship between physical and mental state, an unhealthy youth is more prone to an unstable mental state; and vice versa. Aren’t parents helpless in getting our loved ones out of the blues and maybe at times, be part of giving them stress?
The panelists give some good insights, some could help; others are harder to execute.
A few can-do:
- High school officials are considering a later start of high school hours, to go with the research behind a gradual shifting of the body clock during the adolescence to sleep later.
- Ask them questions such as “what is the definition of success?” Be the best ever possible in listening.
- Talk to the teens when they are in the car.
- Trust your guts when you see signs that their depressed mental state requires extra support. (Some level of stress and sadness is normal.)
- Let them see how we connect to the world, to others and to ourselves; and how we reach out to others for help.
- Be clear on non-negotiable matter. It is ok to set limits, kids like limits. Be clear that they can call parents for help. Every choice has a consequence but help them not to turn bad choice into life-changing situations.
- Hug them
Other good but hard-to-execute insights:
- Reduce electronics simulation and shutdown devices one to two hours before bed time. Technology and the gadgets are becoming essential to this generation; it is a difficult scene to force shutdown of devices or internet by certain time at night. Not to mention teens can outsmart parents, and the genuine need of technology to finish hom
ework. - Kids look down so much these days. In the past, they look at their shoes when they are not confident, now they look at their devices no matter what. Encourage them to look around. Easy said than done.
- Having the time to connect with kids. It is not so much our time; it is more to get their time and attention. Isn’t this a reversal of who-wants-the-time-from-whom when they were 10 years younger?
And how about the aspirations to be the house where kids want to go? I know of smart friends, who turn a room into entertaining center; or another mom who would stay in their bedroom any time their kids take over the living room with their friends.
In the end, it is equally important to find outlets of our own stress, stay healthy and happy; and believe one day, they would know how to manage theirs; be healthy and happy.
years. Many people talk about peak at some years, and from then onwards, it is all downhill. There is that gradual loss of abilities, physical or mental or both; there is that reduction of learning; there is that reaching quota on things that used to grasp our interests. For those who remember the green monitor about thirty years ago, the computer aging process feels different. It becomes slower, left alone, and then is being replaced. Its deterioration is not as unpleasant as human aging amidst illness or suffering or the burden of loved ones.
would think about it in future is most likely different from how I think about it now. Someone in Switzerland said of facilities to trade all the money with the life-long service to take care of you. When the day comes, the physical body and the financial asset go together.
oliviatamccue 