Producing and Practicing

Can we all agree, parenting anxious adolescents can be anxiety producing! This week we’re talking about Jonathan Haidt’s latest book, The Anxious Generation. Parents are afraid, schools are stressed, and no surprise, trickle down anxiety, there’s an entire generation awash in anxiety...and the cycle goes around again. It makes total sense that parents are scared given everything that is going on with kids and, well, everything! Parents want what’s best for their kids. We want to keep them safe.

The truth is that humans, and particularly teens, need new experiences in order to learn and grow. Social media and screens are so much a part of all of our lives. What do we learn from them? What are the kids learning from them? Parents can participate by doing their part-consciously connecting with other humans, and disconnecting from devices. There are ways that parents can invite their kids to roam free- while also maintaining boundaries; let them explore, and also build connections within the home.

We humans are pack animals. We are designed to be together. Exploring how and where to create spaces where in-person communities are present is an opportunity awaiting us all!

PRACTICE:

Keep an eye out for opportunities to give your kid real life interactions, places where they put their phones down and make eye contact in communities

1. Family meals
2. Game nights
3. Consider speaking with parents or administrators about taking the bold step of making school a phone free environment, the kids will balk, but they’re adaptable!
4. What other ideas do you have?

References

Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt