A dividing political climate is imminent across the United States right now, and countries around the world are responding with alarm and concern. The impact of the ongoing conflict between political parties, corporations, and citizens has probably caused your child’s newsfeed to change significantly. What used to be GRWM (get ready with me) vlogs, shopping advertisements, and comedic clips has swiftly erupted into breaking news stories multiple times a day, weather catastrophes, celebrity beef, and political and social tension.
Pre-teens and teens may not know how to express their thoughts about everything, but they are likely to be silently struggling with fear, anxiety, and high levels of stress in response to the heightened emotions around them. Younger children may also pick up on aggressive behaviors in response to what they see on the news, or even overhearing arguments between adults.
In these times of transition, it is important for parents to step in and be the voice of discernment to their kids. Your teen may not have the self-discipline or self-awareness to limit their scrolling on their own, and they may struggle to balance all the negative news with positive media stories. Your young child may also struggle to understand why people around them are angry or scared. Here’s how you can help.
1. Talk about moderation
There is a ton of research out there on the effects of social media. You may also know from personal experience how the overconsumption of media can impact your own mood and executive functioning. Now would be a great time to do some research and share with your teen or preteen. You may want to discuss a strategy to help them manage their screen time more proactively.
For example, you can download apps to help set goals around screen time, such as One Sec, Forest, and Opal. You can also set goals together on paper or your family calendar to act as a visual reminder. Giving your young adult ownership of the decision will be a powerful parenting move and make them more cooperative.
2. Encourage play time with younger children
Young children express themselves and process their thoughts and emotions through play. You may hear things from them while playing that you didn’t realize they were feeling. You may also hear them repeat things they have heard, which can open the door for family discussions on where you stand with the values and behaviors that you want your kids to exhibit.
Playing with your child or being present while they play with others is also a great bonding opportunity. It’s easy for young ones to feel small in such a giant world around them, but you can help them feel big where it matters most- in their homes with the people who care most about them.
3. Invest in outdoor therapy
Kids of all ages need to spend more time exploring what’s outside of their homes and televisions. Look for deals or free events at museums, make visits to local parks, and see what kind of getaways are in your budget for long weekends or stay-cations. With the warmer weather around the corner, you should start to see local markets and spring celebrations pop up. Don’t forget about your local libraries! They often host free events and resources as well.
4. Encourage extra-curricular involvement
Aside from getting outdoors, your children may be struggling to find positive outlets that don’t involve gaming or scrolling. Encourage them to join a school club, arts program, or sport outside of school. Yes, this will add to an already busy schedule, but maybe there is something you can trade off with an extracurricular, such as the time they would have normally spent watching TV or playing video games one time a week.
5. Empower them to make change
Older children may be struggling with their identity and their ability to affect change when their minds are flooded with negative events. They may not be able to create world peace, but how could they create unity and positivity in their school buildings and communities? Could they initiate a kindness-themed week at their school? Volunteer for a 5K supporting a cause of their choice? Organize an event in their neighborhood to encourage community and fun? The options are limitless once you get the creative juices flowing.
6. Lead by example
As a parent, I know that I don't do this perfectly, but each day I try to do a little better than the day before. Adult responsibilities often make us forget to moderate our screen time as well. This is your reminder to take breaks and to also be mindful of what conversations between adults at home look like. Are you expressing strong emotions in front of your kids? Are you asking them for their thoughts on what is happening around them? The more your teens and pre-teens can verbally express and process what’s going on with a trusted adult, the better off their mental health will be.
Most, if not all, parents remember a time when jobs and people didn’t have access to us 24/7 from a mobile device. Let that be a reminder that boundaries are important. Responses can wait, emails can wait, but pouring into your children at such an unpredictable time cannot. You are their first teacher, strongest advocate, and role model.