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3 Things Teens Need Right Now

podcast Jun 13, 2023

This is Going to Be FUN: the Podcast

Episode 51: 3 Things Teens Need Right Now

 

Episode Summary:

3 Things Teens Need Right Now

Our teens are facing more pressure and complex challenges than ever before. If we want to help them navigate the ever-changing world they are living in, we need to better understand their struggles so we can know how to help them.

As I spent the last week with more than 100 teenage girls, I discovered three things teenagers need right now. These three things are essential to your teen’s growth, well-being and resilience!

Find out how you can give your teen what they need so you can set them up for success.

 

 

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I just spent a week in the mountains at our church girls’ camp. Hanging out with more than 100 teenage girls and their leaders all week was a blast, but it was also fascinating to observe. Low self esteem in teens is rampant in the world today, but over the course of the week, I saw these girls conquer fears, navigate challenges, interact with friends and adults and grow in so many ways. 

As I spent time with these girls I learned so much about the unique challenges they are facing and how we, as parents can support them and help them thrive. I noticed 3 things that every girl (and probably every teenager) needs right now to navigate the complexities of the world they are trying to navigate. 

Teenagers need to do hard things

Up at camp, the girls had opportunities to do a lot of things that challenged them and stretched them. Many of those cute little 11-year-olds were spending time away from their home and family for the first time and just being there was a challenge.

Some of the girls had to face their fears to go repelling. Some went on overnight backpacking trips and pushed themselves to their physical limits. 

But as I watched them do these hard things and keep going even when they wished they could quit, I got to see them feel a sense of accomplishment and pride. I got to witness as they proved to themselves that they could do things they never imagined they could. I got to see their confidence grow. 

As parents, we need to allow our teens to do hard things. Of course we want to keep them safe and protected, but they need opportunities to do things that will stretch them and push them. That is how they grow. That is how we combat the epidemic of low self esteem in teens. 

Teenagers need to grow their confidence and self-esteem 

Doing hard things is one way teens can grow their confidence, but they also need to build their self-esteem. If we hope to help them escape the epidemic of low self esteem in teens, they need to recognize their inherent value. They need to know what they want to stand for and who they want to be. 

As I watched the girls interact, I noticed that the ones who had a stronger sense of self-confidence and self-worth were less likely to be impacted by “girl drama”.

If their friends were not following the guidelines or saying unkind things, they were less likely to take offense or be persuaded to follow along. Because they felt secure in who they were, they were able to stay out of the drama, have a more enjoyable time and be an influence for good. 

There is so much we can do as parents to help our teens build their self-esteem and confidence. You can find more help with this on episode 31 of the podcast or inside the ENJOY community

Teenagers need a safe place and refuge from the storm

Today’s teens are in a constant state of survival. At any moment someone could take a picture or video of them and share it with the whole world…potentially out of context.

They face expectations and comparison on an unprecedented level. There are more opportunities for feeling excluded, left-out and inadequate than ever before. 

As parents, we need to be the respite…the break from all this pressure. Our teens need somewhere they can feel safe. Somewhere where they don’t have to be on high alert.

We need to be that place for them. As much as we want them to learn values and be successful, we can’t add to the pressure they are already feeling. We need to take a different approach. 

When we are the safe place for our teen, they want to learn and listen and follow our example so much more than when we try and manipulate or control their behavior. 

When they feel like they are safe to make mistakes and not be perfect, their behavior typically improves and their motivation typically increases. It increases their self-esteem. Not only does your relationship with them improve, but they are actually more likely to respect and adopt your values in the long run.

Taking this parenting approach requires effort

Parenting in this way isn’t easy…especially if it is different from the approach you have been taking. But it is worth it. We have to address the epidemic of low self esteem in teens – and that starts in our own homes with our own teen. What teenagers need is to be able to do hard things, they need to grow their confidence and self-worth and they need you to be a safe place for them. This is the work we are doing inside of my ENJOY community. Join me inside and I will help you make sure your teen is getting these 3 things.

 

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