Wellbeing & Student Engagement 

5 tips for helping your teen cope with stress

With assessment tasks in abundance, stress levels can build. Here are some tips on how to help your child manage these challenging periods:

1. Encourage them to get more sleep

Adolescents need 9 hours sleep a night. Try to cut back on screen time in the late evening (TV, phones, computers etc), phones on Silent and encourage them to jump into bed instead!

1. Help them to focus on their personal strengths

We can’t be good at everything but we are all good at something. Make a list of things that your child is good at and tell them to stick it up in their room or in their school diary. This will give them perspective if they find things challenging at times.

1. Let’s get physical!

Physical activity is one of the MOST effective ways to reduce stress levels. Encourage your child to find something they enjoy – a quick jog, boxing, skateboarding, walking with the dog – and to do it as often as they can.

1. Doing things that make them feel happy

Encourage your child to spend time doing things that bring them joy – hanging out with friends, drawing, listening to music, cooking. This is equally as important as studying.

1. Talking to someone

It is much easier to manage stress when others know how you are feeling. Check in with your child regularly to see how they are feeling. They can also receive further support at school from their Coordinators and the Wellbeing Team.

 The Wellbeing Team