Supporting your child’s emotional health and resilience

Supporting the emotional health and resilience of secondary school-aged children is crucial, especially as they face academic pressures, social challenges, and the complexities of adolescence. Parents play a key role in helping their children navigate these years with confidence and emotional strength.

It’s important for parents to foster an environment where open communication is encouraged. This means creating a space where children feel safe expressing their thoughts, feelings, and concerns without fear of judgment. Regular check-ins where parents actively listen and show empathy, can go a long way to making children feel heard and understood.

Encouraging a growth mindset is another powerful tool in building emotional resilience. Parents can help children view challenges, mistakes, and setbacks as opportunities to learn and grow, rather than as failures. Reinforcing that it’s okay not to be perfect and that struggles are part of life helps children build self-compassion and perseverance.

Another essential aspect is helping teens manage stress. Parents can guide them in identifying healthy coping strategies, such as regular physical activity, mindfulness practices, or creative outlets like writing or art. It's also important to help them set realistic expectations for themselves, balancing schoolwork, extracurriculars, and downtime.

Finally, parents should model emotional regulation and self-care. Children often learn by observing their parents, so showing how to manage stress, express emotions healthily, and prioritise wellbeing is invaluable. Encouraging good sleep hygiene, a balanced diet, and regular social connections with friends also supports overall emotional health.

By staying engaged, offering guidance, and providing a steady source of emotional support, parents can help their teens develop the resilience needed to navigate the ups and downs of secondary school life.