1. Be Available, but Leave Space
Parents of stressed teenagers should be present and let it be known that they are available to speak to their kids anytime. This lets kids know they have an outlet should they really need to vent or talk about something important. If, however, your teen would rather speak to someone else (if the issue is too sensitive, for example), then take steps to get her neutral counseling from a professional. In addition, be ready to let her deal with her stress in her own way, as long as you see it is effective. Give your teen space when she asks for it, but don't be afraid to be involved if you are seeing warning signs of larger problems such as insomnia, weight loss or physical ailments. These are symptoms of growing stress, and they should be treated as soon as possible.
2. Avoid Over-Commitment
With academics, clubs, volunteer work and employment to juggle, teenagers can have very full workloads and have to manage more responsibilities than many adults. Sit down with your teen to help him evaluate his schedule and rank his activities according to his interest level. Encourage him to keep the ones he enjoys the most, but consider quitting or reducing involvement in others. It doesn't need to be a permanent change, but the goal is to treat his current stress level and put his mind at ease.
3. Encourage Healthy Sleep Habits
Going to bed early is contrary to every teenage impulse, but the fact is that the less sleep teenagers get, the more stress they accumulate. Going to school tired makes it difficult for kids to concentrate in class, and coming home exhausted makes doing homework a nightmare. Strongly encourage your teen to go to bed at a reasonable hour and save the late-night video-game playing for weekends and snow days. Teenagers and young adults should shoot for between 7 1/2 and 8 1/2 hours of sleep each night, and many may also need to use weekend mornings to catch up on sleep lost during the week.
