Mental Fitness in teens (12-18 years)
Teenagers make more of their own choices about friendships, school, and other activities. As your teen continues to develop their unique personality, you can expect them to become more independent with their interests, opinions, and relationships.
Mental and emotional development for teenagers
It’s important to understand that your teen will have to make difficult decisions. It’s part of being a teenager. When teens feel connected to family, friends, and school, they develop a clearer sense of who they are. Having a sense of identity can help your teen become more confident when faced with difficult situations, such as peer pressure.
Make time to support, encourage, and engage with your teen. This will help build their mental fitness so that they can confidently navigate anything that comes their way.
Sleep and exercise also impact emotional development for school-age children. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the following sleep and physical activity guidelines for teens.
| Sleep needs (per 24 hours) |
Physical activity recommendations |
|
8-10 hours
|
Get at least 60 minutes per day of moderate-to-vigorous activity. This includes:
- Aerobic activity, like bike riding (daily)
- Muscle-strengthening, like climbing (3+ days/week)
Bone-strengthening, like hopping or skipping (3+ days/week)
|
Ways to support mental fitness in teens
Support for pre-teens and young teens (12–14 years)
Puberty brings rapid physical changes. It’s also a time when some teens become concerned about their appearance. These changes, along with the growing importance of friendships and relationships, can affect your teen’s emotional well-being.
Make sure your teen knows they can talk to you about their worries and problems. Other ways to support your teen include:
- Be clear about goals and expectations, such as getting good grades or keeping their room tidy. Focus on efforts and values, not outcomes. Teach them to keep things clean and show respect for others and themselves. Let your teen provide input on how to reach those goals, such as when and how to study or clean.
- Respect and encourage your teen’s opinions. Actively listen to them without letting your thoughts and judgment guide the conversation.
- Show an interest in your teen’s school and other activities. Get to know your teen’s friends and their families.
Support for older teenagers (15–18 years)
The later teen years bring more growth opportunities. Your teen may take a part-time job or prepare for college. Continue to show that you’re always there to love and support your teen as they become an independent adult.
Ways to support your older teenager include:
- Be honest and direct with your teen when talking about sensitive subjects such as alcohol or drugs, smoking, and sex. They will feel respected.
- Help your teen make healthy choices. Talk with them about the importance of making friends interested in positive activities. Encourage them to avoid anyone who pressures them to make unhealthy choices.
- Talk with your teen about their concerns and pay attention to any behavior changes. If they seem sad or depressed, ask if they have had suicidal thoughts. Asking about those thoughts will not cause your teen to have them, but it will let them know you care about how they feel. Seek professional help if you think your teen is in a mental health crisis.
