Transitions can be difficult for everyone, but especially for teens and their parents. It’s normal to feel overwhelmed or anxious when faced with a new situation or change in life.

Whether it’s starting at a new school, moving to a new home, going off to college, learning to drive, or getting a new job – transitions can bring on feelings of stress and uncertainty for all involved.

Fortunately, there are strategies that both teens and parents can use when facing these tough times together. Here are five tips for navigating difficult transitions:

1) Identify and Label the Source of the Anxiety – Before you both start trying to tackle the transition itself, take some time to identify what is causing your fears or discomfort about this particular situation. Is it related more closely with the fear of failure? Fear of the unknown? A feeling like you don’t belong? Once you have identified the types of thoughts that are increasing the feelings of fear about the transition, then it will be easier to work together to address these worries head-on. This allows us to switch from worry mode to problem-solving mode!

2) Take Small Steps Forward – When tackling any big change in life make sure that every step forward has purpose behind it – even if the steps seem small at first. Breaking down tasks into smaller chunks not only makes them less daunting, but also allows us to track our progress along the way. This helps teens and parents build a sense of mastery and competency, which increases self esteem and confidence!

It’s important not to solely rely on family members alone when going through tough times. Look outwards within the community (e.g. online forums or groups, local events, agencies) for additional sources of support from people who may have gone through similar experiences.

3) Talk Openly about Emotions and Expectations – Transitioning through different stages in life often comes hand-in-hand with emotional shifts as well, so make sure that conversations between parents and teens remain open throughout this process by discussing both expectations AND feelings regularly. Doing so will help ensure everyone involved feels heard and respected while navigating their own individual needs during these transitions.

4) Find Support Outside the Family – It’s important not to solely rely on family members alone when going through tough times. Look outwards within the community (e.g. online forums or groups, local events, agencies) for additional sources of support from people who may have gone through similar experiences. Doing so provides an additional layer of not just empathy for teens and parents, but also the potential for hearing valuable practical advice!