When Kids and Teens are Feeling Lonely
By Juliana Lewellen
When children and teenagers are feeling lonely, they may not know how to express it or how to ask for help from you.
One of the impacts of Covid-19 is that people are struggling to build and re-build connections with peers when they have been so out of practice for so long. Kids and teens are not immune to this impact.
Although this may sound unbelievable, the last normal school year was 2018-2019. That was three grades ago…
As a parent or loved one to a kid or teen, you may want to find a way to help and support them.
Here are some ways you can do so.
Make a plan or even roleplay a conversation:
Sometimes, creating concrete steps can be the most helpful thing to do for kids or teens who are nervous. Practice with your child by pretending to be the friend or classmate they want to try to make plans with. It may also help to talk them through some ways to resolve conflict, as this is an inevitable part of socializing that they may be out of practice with as well. Perhaps they could also find an extracurricular activity they like in order to make friends easier. Whatever they are comfortable with!
2. Be the one to open up the conversation:
If your child or a teen in your life is feeling lonely, they may not be able to find the words to express that to you. It may help to be the one to bring it up. Sometimes the best way to do this is to share something about yourself or about how you personally feel when you don’t get to see your friends for a while. Normalize the feeling of being lonely for them, giving them the emotional vocabulary to express themselves and an opening for them to tell you how they feel.
3. Lend your ear:
As a parent, teacher, neighbor, or coach to kids and teens, you may have the desire to problem-solve when they open up about their feelings of loneliness after Covid-19. However, sometimes it may be best to give them the space to vent. Listening to them may be more helpful than butting in. This may show them that you truly care about how they are feeling and that you are always here for them. The reality is, we have never experienced what it feels like to be growing up in times like these. They need to know that it is safe to talk about their feelings and that you won’t judge.
If you find that your child or teen are struggling with feeling lonely or are having a hard time building connections, socializing, or maintaining relationships with their peers, perhaps it is time to schedule a consultation with one of our therapists at Amel.