Is Your Teen Anxious About Grades? You're Not Alone!

There's anxiety enough to go around for everyone these days and teens are no exception. School pressures can easily escalate and wreak havoc on your teen and trickle into the family dynamics. Here are some easily applicable tips to help teens manage their stress around grades, marks, academic pressures and accomplishments.

One of the most important things you can do it model for your teens and whole family that academic accomplishments are not the bulk of your values. Find any opportunity to both show by actions and explicit verbalization that as a family you value kindness, ambition, determination, fun, relaxation, balance between work and play, empathy, and self awareness to name a few.

Bonus Tip : Check out this great resource to explore what your teens' values are!

Within the above framework, help your teen create a motto of sorts that adequately reflects his/her self and values. For example - "It is important to me that I am a good friend, a genuine person, and creative. My academic accomplishments are only a small part of who I am".

Make sure the statement is one that is generated by your teen (with your help if they desires it), and not by YOUR assessment of what you deem her values or talents to be. Your teen can repeat this motto to herself before studying, during study breaks, and prior to looking at her grades when she receives back school assignments.

Also, encourage your teen to put time limits on studying. This is helpful in two ways:

1. It continues to enforce the idea that studying and academic achievements are not the be-all-and-end-all of the teens worth, and therefore it is important to allot time for other passions/hobbies.

2. The brain experiences fatigue when studying and cramming for too many hours straight - after a point the information and work standard suffers anyway.

Don't forget to help your teens use some previously discussed anxiety and stress-reducing tips when in the moments of academic angst (while studying, writing a paper, about to take a test, getting grades back, etc.). Check out the "Videos" tab on my Instagram account for some creative ideas such as deep breathing, the color game, 5,4,3,2,1. These techniques can be helpful for any age!

I am now offering remote sessions for adults and children from the comfort of your own home. Reach out for a free 15 minute consultation!