Many teens and young adults can benefit from having a teen mentor in their lives. Unfortunately, not all families are aware of teen mentoring services and where to find them. Bridge the Gap hopes to change this.
At Bridge the Gap, we offer teen mentoring services and plan to educate families on the benefits of these services. Most importantly, we want families to know that teen mentors are not just for kids “on the wrong path.” Mentors are helpful for a wide range of reasons, including improving grades and building self-confidence.
So, how exactly can you tell if your child can benefit from teen mentoring services? Below are seven signs that your teen can benefit from having a teen mentor.
1. Your teen is struggling in school.
Is your teenager bringing home poor grades? A teen mentor can help your child succeed in school and prepare accordingly for college and their future. A lot of times, kids struggle in school because they have a hard time focusing on learning. It’s not because they don’t care.
By fostering your child’s interests, passions and strengths, they’ll have an easier time learning in school. In fact, teen mentors may even serve as academic tutors during the school year. Whether your child is in class full-time, learning remotely or participating in a hybrid program, a mentor can help your child adjust, understand course material and maintain good study habits.
2. It’s difficult for your teen to make friends.
Being a teenager is tough, and friends don’t come easy for everyone. Thankfully, you can give your high schooler a boost by pairing them up with a mentor. This professional will work with your teen to develop stronger social skills like active listening, nonverbal communication and conflict resolution.
Your teen’s mentor can also role play certain situations with them. For example, how can they handle a situation where they’re pressured to use drugs or alcohol? What can they do if a friend is being bullied? Through role play, your teen can practice strategies for meeting people, making new friends and handling conflict.
Unfortunately, teens haven’t had much of a chance to work on their social skills in school and sports due to the coronavirus. To keep up on these skills and also provide your teen with a trusted companion, a mentor is a valuable addition to your child’s support circle.
3. You notice that your child has low self-esteem.
If your teen is struggling in school or having a hard time making friends, it could be because they have low self-esteem. A mentor is like an advocate for your child. They’ll motivate and inspire them to try new things and build up their self-esteem. As teens get better grades and make new friends, their self-esteem usually improves.
4. Your teen doesn’t have direction for their future.
Teens often have trouble seeing into the future – they tend to care more about the here and now. Nevertheless, it’s still important for teens graduating high school to have some direction in their lives.
If your teen is lacking direction, a mentor can help them see their strengths and how they fit into the bigger picture. Maybe college isn’t on the list, but perhaps an apprenticeship or volunteer opportunity is? Plus, teens are usually more open to suggestions for work and education when it comes from other people.
5. You discover that your teen is experimenting with drugs and alcohol.
Not every teen who experiments with drugs and alcohol will become an addict. But unfortunately, some will. Because you don’t know if that will be your teen, it’s best to discourage any use of drugs and alcohol.
If your teen is experimenting, take it seriously and don’t wait for things to “get better” on their own. A mentor can talk with your teen and help them understand why they are abusing substances in the first place. Are they stressed? Anxious? Depressed? Teen mentors can also suggest healthier ways to deal with stressful situations.
6. Your child has a hard time being honest with you.
Does your teen feel closed off from you? Not all kids are comfortable talking to their parents about sensitive topics like drugs, alcohol, peer pressure, sex and dating. While it’s completely normal for teens to talk to their friends about these things, you probably don’t want your teen’s friends being the only source of information.
Having a level-headed, rational adult is extremely helpful in these situations. This individual can maintain open communication with your teen while also providing them with healthy responses that you’ll approve of. Teen mentors are often more relatable for teens compared to other authority figures. This makes it easier for them to be honest and have an open dialogue.
7. You want your child to be active in the community.
Mentors can also inspire youth to be more active in their communities. Volunteering is a wonderful way to boost self-confidence, share your talents and find your greater purpose in life.
If this is something you want for your child, enlisting help from a teen mentor is an excellent idea. Your teen can develop relationships with the right people and start working in the community. Research shows that young people with mentoring relationships are more likely to set goals and stick to them, plus be leaders in their own communities.
Seek Teen Mentoring Services for Your Child Today
Teen mentors are not meant to replace parents or fix problems in a family. They are an extra set of hands to help, so to speak. Every child benefits from having a positive role model in their life, and a mentor is just that. For kids who need someone to look up to or have trouble expressing their feelings to their family, a mentor is an excellent fit. To learn more about the teen mentoring services through Bridge the Gap, contact us today.
