Ideas to help anxious teens in lockdown

A children’s charity boss is sharing tips on how to keep your teenager happy during the extended lockdown.

Barnardo’s Scotland, which has a base helping youngsters in Paisley, is offering helpful advice for parents online.

Martin Crewe, director for Barnardo’s Scotland and a father of four, said:“If you’re struggling to keep your teenager in the house and sticking to lockdown rules, know that you’re definitely not alone.

“Each child is an individual and it’s important that you listen to the things they are struggling with the most and adapt things within the home, as best you can and are able to, to help them manage their responses.

“Most importantly, please remember that you are not failing as a parent.

“It doesn’t mean your child is failing either.

“This is a difficult time for everyone, and there will be many other parents finding it difficult.

“Remember, it’s not going to last forever and we will get through this.”

He said youngsters’brains work differently from adults and their developing independence and freedom is one of the central parts of being a teenager.

Testing boundaries, exploring their identity and having fun is more important than following rules, which explains why they might find lockdown so hard.

Kids have been telling the charity reasons they are struggling with lockdown include missing social contact, peer support, getting away from family arguments and having too much focus on school work as well as feeling scared, threatened, anxious and stressed.

For more information visit www.barnardos.org.uk/ coronavirus-advice-hub