As academic pressures intensify in secondary school, teenagers need more than just parental support—they need their own toolkit for managing stress. A clinical psychologist highlights that teaching adolescents self-regulation skills is one of the most powerful ways to empower them to prevent burnout and build lifelong resilience.
Meghna Kanwat, a clinical psychologist, suggests that parents can actively teach their teens practical techniques to calm their minds and bodies during stressful moments. “Encourage and teach self-regulation skills (deep breathing, grounding exercise),” she advises. Simple deep breathing exercises can instantly lower heart rate and anxiety, while grounding techniques—like naming five things you can see—can pull a teen out of an anxious thought spiral.
These skills give adolescents a sense of control over their emotional responses. Instead of feeling helpless when faced with a challenging exam or a heavy workload, they have concrete actions they can take to manage their stress. This builds confidence and reduces the likelihood of feeling completely overwhelmed, which is a hallmark of burnout.
Beyond in-the-moment techniques, self-regulation also involves bigger-picture thinking. Kanwat recommends that parents “help adolescents reflect on their values and priorities.” This encourages teens to think about what is truly important to them beyond grades. When a student has a strong sense of their own values, they are less likely to be derailed by external pressures and can make choices that align with their overall well-being.
By equipping their teens with these self-management tools, parents shift from being problem-solvers to being coaches. This fosters independence and prepares adolescents for the challenges of higher education and adult life, ensuring they have the internal resources to thrive, not just survive.
4