Growing up can be stressful and all children experience stress at some point in their lives. In today's fast-paced, social media-driven, high-pressured culture, teens are reporting higher levels of stress and anxiety than ever before. The videos and articles below are provided in order to help parents understand what is trending nationally and how we can help our kids understand and manage their levels of stress and anxiety in healthy ways. For instructions to view this website in Spanish, click on en Español.
Families Connected Resources
Families Connected videos featuring teens and experts
Mira Costa High School and Redondo Union High School teens share what stresses them out, how they cope, and how parents can help.
Watch the Families Connected Speaker Series event, "Recognizing and Responding to Teen Stressors and Pressures," a panel discussion.
Tips and tools from Anna Pirkl, M.A., MFT, on ways to help our kids reduce their levels of stress and anxiety.
Stress vs. anxiety
click image to enlarge
Know that all stress isn’t bad. Stress can be a motivating and positive force, as long as your child has coping strategies and the tools necessary to manage it in healthy ways. The videos and resources on this page can help them develop healthy ways to cope. In this pdf, we show the difference and great area of overlap between stress and anxiety. Know that if your child’s anxiety is becoming debilitating, you will want to reach out for help from your school counselor or a mental health professional. Click HERE to view en Español.
Blogs on teens and stress and anxiety
SBFC Blogger, Jill Millstein
The Difference Between Peanut Allergies and Anxiety, by Jill Millstein
Embrace the Pause: How We Parents Can Reduce Stress in Our Students' Lives by Dr. Nicole Wesley
Let's Stop the College (March) Madness by Helen Codron, M.Ed.
My Freshman Experience: How Trying to “Fit in” Came at the Price of Well-Being by Brain Chao
Anxiety: Our Family’s Journey by Laurie James
Things I Wish I Knew: Helping Your Highly Sensitive Teen by a Manhattan Beach Mom
COVID Goal: Good Enough Is Enough by Jill Millstein
Mindfulness For Our Children: Guiding by Example by Danielle Radl
On Being a Mother and a Therapist by Leah Niehaus
Confessions of a Reformed Helicopter Mom by a Manhattan Beach Mom
Curated Gallery of Resources
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Featured video: not all stress is bad - how to make stress your friend
Featured Resource
Dr. Jon Haidt, author of The Anxious Generation, and Dr. Becky Kennedy, founder of Good Inside, have produced this practical, empowering guide for parents. It contains five simple, actionable strategies for how to set boundaries with your kids (regardless of their age), resist their demands for smartphones and social media, and help them develop confidence, independence, and resilience. Click on the image to access an online form where you can request the free guide.
We also recommend visiting the Anxious Generation’s Resource Library.
National articles and informative guides
How to Avoid Passing Anxiety on to your Kids (Child Mind Institute)
How Anxiety Affects Teenagers (Child Mind Institute)
The 10 Things I Say to My Teens When They are Stressed Out (Grown & Flown)
How Harnessing the Positive Side of Stress Can Change Student's Mindsets (KQED)
American Teens Are Even More Stressed Than Adults (Huffington Post)
All Stress is Not Distress (Challenge Success)
How to Handle Anxiety Fueled Refusals to Go to School (KQED)
Why Stress and Anxiety in Teens Can be Healthy: A Psychologist Explains (Grown & Flown)
How to Help Teenagers Get More Sleep (Child Mind Institute)
What is Social Anxiety? (Child Mind Institute)
How to Help Teenage Girls Reframe Anxiety and Strengthen Resilience (KQED)
How to Help Teen Girls Cope with Stress (Greater Good Magazine)
Recommended videos featuring Denise Pope of Challenge Success
Related Families Connected resources
More resources for parents and guardians
Resources for teens
For More Youth Wellness Resources, Visit:
For South Bay parents and caregivers
Go to the South Bay Families Connected landing page to view local events, the Teen Resource Center, to sign-up for the SBFC monthly parent e-newsletter, and more.
For parents and caregivers in the U.S.A.
Visit the Families Connected landing page for non-region-specific, free youth wellness online resources.