Adolescence is a time when children are going through a lot of changes; physical, emotional, mental and social. During this period, the child is finding an identity and at the same time, trying to fit in. Their physical appearance becomes a priority for them. From dealing with academics to parents’ pressure, there is a lot on their small minds. The internet has become a safe haven for them. Not understanding the fact that social media is public and permanent, they often end up sharing things that they shouldn’t.
To add up to this stress, the increasing academic competition makes life even more difficult for the teenage years. As an adolescent, he/she is also learning to deal with emotional regulation. You will often witness emotional outbursts. Teenagers tend to become frustrated, anxious and/or confused easily.
Some might have episodes of anger while others may find solace in their tears. At times, it becomes quite a challenge for the adolescent to identify emotions and this is where parents and educators can play a crucial role in helping them understand their mental health and how to improve it.
Just like physical health, mental health requires a healthy diet, exercise and sound sleep. Additionally, a positive outlook towards life can be very beneficial for a child’s mental and physical health. Children who are more prone to anxiety, need a strong support system to handle academics related stress.
According to WHO, one in six people are between the age of 10-19 years. About 14% of this population faces mental health conditions. Such children are vulnerable to bullying, social exclusion, illnesses and face difficulty in their educational journey. Some may even be inclined towards risk taking behavior. Due to the stigma attached to mental health illness, many may never seek help. Thus, we as parents and mentors need to provide an environment where children feel safe to talk about their wellbeing and if anything is affecting it negatively. As adolescence is already a roller coaster ride, an extra effort must be made to address mental and physical health issues. As the teenage years bring added responsibility of preparing for future educational goals, it is very important to keep a check and balance in terms of their wellbeing.
Signs of deteriorating wellbeing
If a child is doing academically well at the expense of his/her health, it is not worth it. Lookout for the following signs when in doubt about your child’s wellbeing:
- Eating patterns are disturbed
- Too much sleep or too little sleep
- Lazy and/or irritable most of the time for a week or more
- Not taking interest in his/her favourite activities such as sports, arts etc.
- Too much online activity
A conducive environment at home
It all starts at home; ensure a conducive environment for studying and one that nurtures both physical and mental health. A child needs a place that provides comfort and security and where respect, trust and kindness are taught at a young age.
How Schola Nova plays its part
From a young age, children observe their peers. Their friends can have a great influence on them. Their teachers often become their role models. Choose a school that keeps these aspects in mind.
Especially, at the adolescence level, children want to be accepted by their peers, become friends with the popular kids and therefore give into peer pressure. Hence, we believe in emphasizing strong moral values and character building traits, to foster emotional wellness and at the same time enable them to achieve academic excellence.
As social media has become a crucial part of their lives, their online activities have become a necessity for a teenager. This combined with a more sedentary lifestyle, children today are more prone to low levels of well-being. Schola Nova strongly advices limiting social media activities, keeping a check on them and discussing it with your teenager, so that you can track their online presence and how it’s affecting their wellbeing.
Once you ensure that your child is mentally, physically, emotionally and socially stable, he/she will be able to concentrate on academics.
At Schola Nova, our teachers and admin staff are trained to identify problems related to wellbeing and academics. Any kind of unusual behaviour is reported in order to address the root cause. An in-house Councellor is also available to cater to specific issues pertaining to mental health.
Final checklist for balancing academics and wellbeing
To ensure your child is healthy and able to cope with academic challenges, follow a consistent routine:
- A healthy diet
- Set a bedtime; for this purpose you need to ensure there is no TV/screen time after 10 pm
- Daily exercise or any sport your child enjoys. If you can encourage yoga breathing and mindful walking, it can really help your child deal with academic stress.
- Ensure he/she has supportive friends who are a good influence on him/her
Communication with your child is of pivotal value during the teen years. But be careful! Too many questions and/or advice can backfire! It may sound like interrogation and an invasion of their privacy. You cannot stop your child from using social media and his/her online activities but you can stay connected via social media. This will help you understand their likes and interests aswell. You will have more topics to discuss with your child e.g. their favourite sports celebrities, what sort of clothing brands they follow.
Academic advice should be shared and not enforced. You can guide your child but you cannot dictate your opinion. The teenager today has the world at his/her fingertips. He/she knows exactly what they want and how to get there. But of course wisdom lies with parents and educators due to their experience. Try to look for a mentor for your teenager e.g. an older cousin, aunt or uncle who inspires your child and who can pass your wisdom to your child in a more subtle manner.
Together we can help our children maintain their wellbeing while focusing on their academics. Let your child feel loved and heard. Let them enjoy their childhood and give them space to make mistakes and learn from them. We leave you with a quote to reflect upon;
Written By Romana Ibrahim
-Co founder www.educations.pk
-Visiting teacher (Character Building) at PSI
-Visiting teacher at Schola Nova
-Co host at Wee Matter (mental wellbeing and self care platform)
Sources:
Adolescent Mental Health (2024)
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/adolescent-mental-health