How to Help Teens to Be Social Again

By: Jojo Herzig

As Covid-19 swallowed up normalcy across the United States, the “new” normal has challenged our teenagers to maintain their social relationships. What can we do as parents to help them re-connect with their friends, particularly now that many summer camps and pre-college programs have been cancelled?

When schools closed and online learning commenced, suddenly, our kids were sitting for hours in front of their laptops, racking up more screen time than ever before. High school students miss the high-five, the pat on the back after making a three pointer in a game, and the funny handshakes made up at school in the hallway.  It is critically important to help our teenagers have time with people other than family by re-engaging with their friends. Parents can brainstorm ideas with their kids and help them to formulate a game plan.  Their newly constructed social life may not be perfect, but little by little this will help bring back some fun into their days, particularly this summer.

Calling all musicians and singers! Create a small quartet of acapella singers or musicians to practice and perform on zoom or for the neighbors. Taking it one step further, perhaps your teens can sing safely outside nearby nursing homes or community areas. What an amazing opportunity to combine a volunteer activity and improve on a skill. Small groups will work best. Actors and actresses can also practice and perform together. Students can work on a favorite scene from a play or write a play of their own that can be performed for friends and families in small gatherings.

For the artists, the options are limitless. Imagine your teenager making your backyard an outdoor sculpture garden.  They can recruit a few friends who enjoy the creative process to perhaps paint a mural on materials from Home Depot.  Or they can find cheap materials with which to build their own sculpture inspired by their favorite artist. Bringing two or three creative minds together will be a fun social activity.  After the project is complete, your teenager can invite a few friends to come visit. Voila! Their own art exhibition garden party (with social distancing!).

Many teenagers are already feeling a bit lonely. Just the idea of laughing, talking and sharing personal feelings will help the long summer days go by. Even the simplest activities will keep your teenagers social.  Invite a few friends over just to hang out and sit in a circle in the back yard to talk. Or go for a long walk or bike ride.  Maybe your teenagers start a new activity, like a gardening club or a bird watching club. This is the summer to try something new and most suburban kids haven't had the time to get their hands dirty!

Other students, however, thrive with online studying and will choose to take academic classes online. Instead of being alone in your room, have a study buddy. It’s much more social to study for the ACT or SAT on a zoom call with a friend or an academic advisor. It can help alleviate the tediousness of the exercises. Sharing strategies with a friend will also make the studying a little more fun and productive.

For the athletic teenager there are many opportunities to stay in great shape or even get stronger. Grab a jump rope, a stopwatch and head to the track with a few friends. For the first timers, maybe running a mile will be a summer goal using each week as a chance to improve their time. Have a sit-up and push-up competition with your friend, either on a zoom call or in person.  Other recreational activities like ping-pong, golf, tennis, shooting hoops, and throwing around a frisbee can be done using proper social-distancing techniques.

With the spring winding down and the summer months ahead, there are many ways for your teens to stay connected socially. And if you want a little more advice, Ask Versed! We are here to help. 

 

About Jojo Herzig:

Jojo is a parent to two college students at University of Michigan and Pomona College, and has navigated a range of admissions processes including college, private schools and boarding schools with families that she works with as well as her own children. She is currently a volunteer college advisor at St. Ignatius School in the Bronx helping students through the maze of college application and financial aid process. Jojo brings her wealth of experience to help students identify what is most important to them, and approach the college process with an open mind, a great plan, and an organized timeline. Learn more about Jojo HERE.

 

For additional information and insights, check out our blog: 

How to Help Your Teens Manage Their Time

Meaningful Summer Activities that Enhance College Application

Do High School Students Need a Focus?

Also check out our webinar:

Summer Planning during COV-19

 

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