Confinement with teenagers: 8 tips

As we all know, coexistence is based on a series of rules that all members of us comply with in order to organize ourselves as a team.

Given the current world situation and imposed by the responsible bodies, coexistence in quarantine leads to a new contract in which it is necessary to establish new rules, and with which each of the members commits to fulfill a role, all in order that we can achieve the joint objectives of the team.

¿How this is achieved in the case of families with adolescent childrenwho tend to value their autonomy highly?

• Related article: "The 3 stages of adolescence"

How to manage confinement with adolescents?

The first thing is to identify the problems. Coexistence in quarantine implies modifying the usual routine that each of the members maintained, and this puts us to the test to be able to identify the best way to face this psychological and emotional challenge.

There are many variables that can affect how we decide to face this challenge, such as physical space, financial resources, family members, etc. All of them have their impact on our decision, but

the goal is the same for everyone: overcome fear.

In short, the family is a system that is supported by the different members, and all change in routine implies a destructuring, which could lead to a possible situation of crisis. Therefore, it is essential to define the new guidelines, norms, roles, and limits, to prevent this unforeseen crisis situation from having a negative impact on our coexistence.

For this, it is essential to be as transparent and sincere as possible among all the members of the team, especially with the children who are the most vulnerable in this situation of confinement.

Understanding the adolescent

According to the WHO, adolescence is the period of human development that arises after childhood and before adulthood, between 10 and 19 years of age. It is one of the most important transitional stages in human life, and characterized by an accelerated rate of growth and change, surpassed only by that experienced by infants.

This phase of growth and development is conditioned by various biological processes. The beginning of puberty marks the passage from childhood to adolescence.

It is important to be able to understand adolescents, to know how they feel about the current situation in which we are living. At this stage of life, it is very important to socialize, go out, interact with your friends, have privacy. Given the situation of the pandemic, all this is canceled and leads to an increase in discomfort and frustration, and therefore to family discussions at home.

With regard to adolescents, there is a significant frustration, since during these days they cannot see their friends. So, It is important as parents to be able to be more flexible with them about the time dedicated to social networks and video calls in privacyGive them that space behind closed doors, since this is the only way they can communicate with their peers. It is essential to be able to motivate them from their creativity to interact with their links.

For many adolescents, the most painful crisis is the activities suspended due to the pandemic: sports, graduations, outings, trips, etc. It is essential that they have a space to be heard, to share their feelings and emotions without being judged, since in these moments is when they can express the emotions that we are feeling, without being caught by them, and more so in this moment of life, which is adolescence, in which young people are an explosion of emotions from by Yes.

• You may be interested: "How to apply the rules of coexistence at home"

To do?

From PSiCOBAi, we propose the following recommendations.

1. Respect your privacy

Teens should have a moment of privacyd, either to connect with their friends as well as to connect with themselves.

2. Make them understand

At this stage of life they tend not to see clearly abstract dangerous situations, so it is important to be able to speak with them honestly and explain with clear words and examples what the Pandemic we are in means living.

3. Create a climate of free expression

It is very important that adolescents can express themselves without being judged, since if we keep the sensations of how we are feeling, this will generate anguish.

4. Create regularity

You have to keep regular schedules and routine, but also time for disconnection and free time.

5. Provide emotional support

You have to be able to help manage the situation of frustration for what they are going through, being able to give them new tools to connect with other peers.

6. Get to know ourselves better, and those around us

Coexistence can help us to detect virtues, strengths, and fears that we did not know existed before.

7. Creativity

It would be normal for us to find ourselves in a boredom situation, but we should not worry, since Faced with this situation, creativity usually appears asleep in us, which will help us to pass this quarantine in a more harmonious way

8. Be careful with expectations

It is important to lower our level of expectation before confinement, and focus on what is really worth. Taking care of ourselves also means taking care of our family and our peers.

Looking for help?

If you are interested in having professional help, we invite you to get in touch with our professionals PSICOBAi.