Raising a teenager in today’s fast-paced digital world is not for the faint of heart, and we give parents props for doing such demanding but necessary work. With summer fully in the rearview mirror, kids are immersed in the new school year, and as they get older, it can be harder to know how they’re doing in school.
Academic failure weighs heavy on the hearts of many parents (and also youth!) But you don’t have to wait until the end of the term or semester to see how your young adult is doing this year. Research has unearthed a handful of back-to-school red flags that signal that an academic or emotional storm may be brewing on the horizon.
Back To School Red Flags: Identifying Early Warning Signs
Early detection and intervention is the best way to help your child from yielding to academic struggles, social isolation, or emotional distress. Take note if you see any academic or behavioral changes, as promptly addressing these early warning signs in students allows for timely intervention. Addressing red flags early on could prevent issues from escalating and negatively impacting a student’s emotional well-being and academic progress.
One of the challenging components in identifying some of these early warning signs is that for some teens, changes in any of these categories might be a normal part of their development. For example, maybe a student who had previously got great grades in math is now struggling to get a C. That could be because of a larger issue, or it could mean that a new concept in math is more challenging for them, and they might need extra support. One way to be more sure that a new behavior is a red flag, not a developmentally appropriate shift, or some other issue (like not understanding how to do algebra) is noticing changes in more than one area. Typically, many significant changes indicate a bigger internal shift for your young adult, so tracking those changes is crucial, too.
Academic Performance Warning Signs
- A sudden drop in grades or academic performance
- Frequent absences or skipping classes
- Lack of interest in previously enjoyed subjects or extracurricular activities
- A sudden change of friend groups
Behavioral Changes in Students
- Increased irritability, anger, or mood swings
- Withdrawal from social interactions and isolating behavior
- Noticeable changes in eating or sleeping habits
Emotional Indicators
- Signs of depression, anxiety, or excessive worrying
- Expressing feelings of hopelessness or worthlessness
- Difficulty managing stress and coping with challenges
Executive Function Deficits
- Poor time management and organization skills
- Inability to plan and complete tasks independently
- Forgetfulness and difficulty following instructions
Substance Abuse Warning Signs
- Noticeable changes in appearance or personal hygiene
- Secretive behavior and avoiding discussions about activities
- Physical symptoms such as bloodshot eyes or sudden weight changes
Red Flags and Young Adult Developmental Challenges
In many ways, “sticking it to the man” is a normal and essential part of adolescence, even though most parents struggle with this development component. For a teen to eventually be brave (and let’s face it, a little egotistical) enough to move out and start their own lives, they have to stop thinking that their parents are all-knowing, all-powerful, all-fixing beings. For parents who, up to this point in their parenting journey, might have enjoyed a fairly easy, obedient, happy kid to suddenly have a teen who refuses to clean up after themselves, wants to hang out with their friends exclusively, and seems to think they know everything, the shift can be painful and unexpected.
As long as the changes are not causing harm to themselves or others, it’s likely a normal transition your teen is making to take on the challenges of adulthood. When teens struggle with this stage, it might look like taking all of the normal challenges of this age and multiplying them to extreme heights. It’s normal for a kid to come home 10 minutes after curfew and be annoyed that you move their curfew up for the next night as part of the consequence of not keeping curfew. It is less normal to have a kid who sneaks out every night to meet up with friends where they engage in unsafe behaviors.
How Early Intervention Leads to Lasting Change in Young Adults
If you notice these red flags, all is not lost. Thankfully, noticing is the first step to addressing the red flag behavior. The next step is to intervene. Depending on the issues your teen is facing, intervention might look like therapy, group therapy, medications, therapy for the parents, and behavioral changes. The sooner you can teach and learn new skills for dealing with the challenges of raising a teen, the sooner you can get started with healing. Additionally, early intervention prevents more traumatizing events for your teen- the sooner you get involved, the sooner you can help prevent them from engaging in escalated behaviors.
Back-to-School Stress: Practical Tips for Students and Parents
Ultimately, learning how to manage stress is the task of a lifetime, one that we will all return to over and over. Your job as the parent of a teen going back to school is to offer some of your ideas for managing stress and then help your teen identify their own. When we develop actionable plans for dealing with stress, we are more likely to avoid the red flags that can crop up at the beginning of the school year. Here are some tips for managing back-to-school stress for teens:
- Prepare the basics—get your first-day outfit, backpack, meals, and plan ready. Preparation does help make the first day go smoothly!
- Accept that nerves are part of any new experience and are not a sign of something wrong.
- Envision your best first day—not just what you wore or ate for lunch, but how the day made you feel. How would you feel at the end of the best first day of school ever? What would have happened that day if you had the best first day of school? How can you make sure those things happen tomorrow?
- Create a list of your go-to mood boosters and refer to them when life gets tough—whether it’s a playlist, a favorite clip from a movie, a hobby, texting a friend, or playing with a pet. Make your own list so it’s easy to access when you need it.
- Trust your gut. If something feels off, honor it, and then find a safe person to process with.
- Remember that mistakes are part of learning, so if you are making mistakes, you are learning. Good job!
- Find your people. Remember that friends are meant to lift you up, inspire you, and make it easy to be your best self.
How Pure Life’s Gap Year Can Make A Difference
We know from experience and research that gap years can be a pivotal moment in your child’s emotional and educational journey. Gap years can benefit your child by helping them develop a growth mindset by engaging in activities that build self-confidence, leadership, and life skills.
Pure Life Adventure is proud to offer a robust, clinically-sound outdoor therapy program to get struggling young adults back on track. Along with cultural immersion and adventure activities, an important part of our adventure therapy program includes group and one-on-one therapy to provide mental health support. We work with the entire family and coach parents through this difficult time.
DISCOVER: How The Pure Life Program Can Help
Understanding The Benefits Of A Therapeutic Gap Year
While the benefits of a therapeutic gap year are many, these are our top three benefits that we are excited to share with your child:
Experiential learning. This powerful educational approach involves learning through direct experience, reflection, and active engagement. It can significantly impact personal growth as students actively participate in hands-on activities and real-life situations. Experiential learning often involves encountering unexpected challenges and uncertainties. Through these experiences, individuals develop adaptability, critical thinking skills, self-confidence, and a sense of accomplishment as they overcome challenges and achieve their goals.
Nature’s therapeutic effect on mental health. Nature can have a significant impact on mental health. Whether it’s the calming influence of nature’s sights and sounds that reduce stress or the exposure to sunlight or change of urban scenery, engaging with nature’s beauty can evoke a sense of awe, wonder, and connectedness, enhancing positive emotions and outlook. Getting out in nature can improve creativity, problem-solving, and mental clarity.
Resilience and self-esteem through outdoor activities. Whether navigating unfamiliar terrain, facing adverse weather conditions, or pushing your physical limits, participating in physical outdoor activities, like surfing and rafting, will give your child a clear sense of purpose and direction as she works towards overcoming personal challenges and perceived limitations. By stepping out of their comfort zone, young adults learn to adapt, problem-solve, and persevere in facing difficulties–all skills that transfer well into normal, everyday life.
The Integrated Approach Of Therapeutic Gap Years
The development of emotional intelligence is crucial for personal growth. As individuals become more self-aware, they can make more informed decisions, set meaningful goals, and develop a stronger sense of identity. This is where the magic happens. When you combine traditional therapy with outdoor experiences, your child will experience a uniquely designed therapeutic experience specifically tailored by our talented therapists and field guides for each student’s needs. The end result? Increase mindfulness, emotional regulation, and practical and essential life skills development. With the combined expertise of our clinicians and support staff, we’ve created a program that includes so many features that encourage the development of emotional intelligence.
LEARN MORE: Starting Your Gap Year Strong
Why Pure Life’s Therapeutic Gap Year Program Stands Out
Helping struggling students is our only goal. We strongly believe that a holistic, natural, evidence-based, and active approach will create lasting change, and our therapeutic gap year program was built to do just that. Our program stands proudly above the rest because of our unique blend of exposure to the natural world, integration into the local community, and exceptional therapeutic interventions. When you work with Pure Life Adventure, you can count on a team that has:
Decades Of Experience in the Costa Rican Outdoor Industry
With experience that dates back to 2003, Pure Life is lucky to have such a talented and diverse team on staff. Each member is passionate about the outdoors and dedicated to facilitating quality therapeutic experiences for our students.
Bicultural Team Understanding Cross-Cultural Needs
Our skilled bicultural team means that we have multiple life views to draw upon to help us meet young adults where they’re at. This board life view allows us to connect with students, meet cross-cultural needs, and understand cultural differences.
Holistic Approach To Addressing Mental Health Challenges
We aren’t shy about saying that we provide our students with the best care in the field. Our holistic approach is based on group and individual therapy, reconnecting with nature, discovering new skills and talents, and developing sound wellness practices, like healthy eating, consistent exercise, good sleeping habits, mindfulness, and meditation.
Emphasis On Fitness, Cultural Immersion, And Life Skills
We strongly believe that fitness, cultural immersion, and the development of life skills are some of the most important components of any lasting therapeutic approach. In our program, your young adult will spend time doing outdoor activities like rock climbing, hiking, camping, and rafting–not only do these activities build strong bodies, they also build strong minds and emotional intelligence.
Decoding Back-to-School Red Flags – Pure Life Can Crack The Code
If your loved one is struggling emotionally or academically, and you have identified any of our back-to-school red flags, don’t wait to take action. Early identification of warning signs and timely intervention can prevent potential challenges from escalating.
As you seek professional guidance and explore available resources, we encourage you to consider whether a therapeutic gap year or semester could benefit your child. Pure Life Adventure’s adventure therapy offers a holistic, tailored environment to develop personal growth, skill-building, and emotional healing. Many former students express gratitude for what our program has taught them. We offer some of the best care in the industry. Get in touch with Pure Life today to see how our program can help.
