Most of America is coming out of over a year of lock down due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The majority of schools are offering at least some in-person learning. Recreational sports are beginning to resume. Several states have started to drop mask mandates for vaccinated individuals. Large scale sporting events and even concerts are back on Spring and Summer schedules for many venues.
Things are finally getting back to normal.
We are hearing this phrase in many different settings. At the grocery store check-out line. At school drop off. At the end of work zoom calls. We smile as we say it – no doubt dreaming of the summer BBQ’s and beach vacations that may finally be within reach.
But when it comes to the mental health of our kids and teens, what if “getting back to normal” isn’t the best metric to meet?
Psychologists are very focused on the toll that the isolation and stress the pandemic has placed upon our youth. And there is no doubt that major mental health benefits are connected to resuming the social, recreational, and academic in-person activities for our kids and teens. However, we can’t ignore the staggering mental health statistics BEFORE the pandemic across the ages of 3-17:
- 4% (~6.1 million) with ADHD
- 4% (~4.5 million) with a diagnosed behavior problem
- 1% (~4.4 million) with diagnosed anxiety
- 2% (~1.9 million) with diagnosed depression
So, before we jump back in with both feet to life as normal, let’s use this transitional time as an opportunity to pause, reflect, and decide what the “new normal” might look like.
The following provide three pandemic silver linings that pack a big punch. Hopefully we can carry these into the next phase of post-pandemic life for our kids and teens.
Academic flexibility
The abrupt shift of in-person to on-line learning necessitated the recognition from administrators, teachers, and parents that when it comes to school, one size does not fit all. Some kids and teens will benefit from the flexibility that online learning programs can provide. Complex and fixed school schedules, seat time requirements, and pressures schools face to meet four-year graduation rates can work against students who learn at a different pace and in different ways. Giving students more options for learning will increase their investment in and ownership of their education.
Mindfully choosing activities
Prior to the pandemic, the number of after school sports or activities that a child aged 5 to 12 had on their schedule at any given time was 5. For teens, the average was 7. The average number of homework hours for high schoolers was 4-6! No wonder our kids and teens were stressed and tired. Although it was undoubtedly quite difficult for kids and teens to abruptly give up their extra-curricular interests, the clean slate of participation does provide an opportunity to mindfully choose what they REALLY want to add back onto their plate. Further, as a family we have a chance to stop operating on the extra-curricular auto-pilot that more equals better. We can think of after school activities like shoes; it’s easy to collect too many when all we really need are the ones we love the most.
Increasing responsibility and independence
There was definitely a percentage of teens who had to unfairly shoulder far too many adult responsibilities during the pandemic including financial loss and childcare of siblings. However, a majority of older kids and teens who stepped up to the plate may benefit in the long run from contributing to their family economy. Taking on household chores such as laundry and helping with dinner are life skills that many of our older kids and teens are seriously lacking. In fact, here is a staggering statistic pre-pandemic: one-third of American college students drop out at the end of their freshman year. And one of the primary reasons cited is the stress that accompanied a lack of life skills and independence. Coming out of this pandemic, we should continue to encourage the participation of our kids and teens in these basic household responsibilities and take pride in their ability to do so.
The headlines are correct – the pandemic will absolutely take a negative toll on the mental health of youth. Resources and access to mental health services for our kids and teens at this time is essential. However, as with any significant crisis there is a recovery that follows and we have a unique opportunity to help shape what the new normal looks like; keeping the mental health of our kids and teens at the forefront of our minds.