Category

Teens

Category

COVID-19 pandemic has brought with it many uncertainties, isolation, losses, cancellations… all the things that can make children (and us!) down and worried. A recent analysis looking into 80 879 youths worldwide showed that the rate of depression in children during COVID was 25%: DOUBLE the pre-pandemic levels. This is a silent mental health crisis. Possible signs of depression in older children/teens include: – Changes in mood: irritability, feeling hopeless, rage, constant conflict with family and friends. This can be hard to differentiate from normal teenager mood swings, but the persistence of such symptoms is a clue. – Withdrawal from personal relationships – Physical symptoms such as frequent headaches/ stomach-aches – A loss of interest in activities previously enjoyed – A hard time falling or staying asleep, OR excessive sleep – Changes in appetite/ eating pattern/ weight – Problems with memory, concentration or schoolwork – Changes in appearance/ lack of…

We’re  focusing on the enigmatic world of teenagers as opposed to toddlers! (Although in effect there is actually much overlap!). Has your gorgeous chatty boy turned into a monosyllabic grunter?! Being a teenager is a time of turmoil, triumph and trouble, in a constant tug of war between childhood and adulthood. Sometimes, they’ll revert to acting like a child (tired, hungry, hormonal), and often to the level of the two year-old with tantrums! Sometimes, the pull will be towards maturity, and for moments they’ll have the whole family beaming with pride as they talk the most miraculous sense for a period of time. More often than not, they’ll will hover in the middle! A lot of this has to do with hormones, chemicals and brain immaturity. These 7 facts about adolescence will hopefully help parents (and teenagers) to navigate these years: The teenage brain is still developing: – the prefrontal…