“Why didn’t I get invited?” “Do I look okay” – Help your child navigate more complex relationships and tend to their mental health.
The tween years (from about 10 to 13) can be tough on kids (not to mention parents!). As they approach adolescence, children begin asserting their independence and practicing the eye-rolls they’ll perfect as teenagers.
But as social relationships become more important and more complex — Why didn’t she invite me? Is he watching? Do I look okay? — tweens also tend to be more self-conscious, sensitive, and insecure. So while they may suddenly seem to find parents clueless and embarrassing, they still need your support — specifically for their mental health and wellbeing.
Positive mental health is essential to a child’s healthy development. National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day (Friday, May 7, 2021) seeks to raise awareness about the importance of children’s mental health and you can join the cause.
If your tween has a cellphone, help them sign up for Text, Talk, Act by texting APA to 89800. Launching on May 7, and continuing throughout the month, Text, Talk, Act teaches tweens how to take care of their mental health, focusing on challenges related to COVID-19, and how to reach out to their parents/guardians to start a conversation around mental health. The text messages include polling questions, discussion questions, videos, and social media interactions.