Tween & Teenage Mood Swings: How to Handle During COVID

Teens and pre-teens have not been exempt from feeling the stresses of the COVID-19 pandemic. They've missed school, struggled with remote learning, and missed many social engagements that mark a traditional childhood. Their routines have been upended in a way that could affect their day-to-day moods and cause your teenager to have mood swings.

Parents might feel frustrated when they see their child struggle through bouts of sadness or anger. But they shouldn't feel helpless. There are ways to effectively reach a moody child, according to Wendy Nash, M.D., senior child and adolescent psychiatrist at the Child Mind Institute.

How to Handle Teenage Mood Swings During COVID

Have casual conversations with your teen about their mood.

The key is to start by talking to them—but do it informally. “It's about how you communicate. Do it in a way that's nonchalant and not intense,” Dr. Nash says. A casual conversation is more likely to get a child to open up because they won't feel as pressured and put on the spot.

In fact, Dr. Nash even recommends eliminating eye contact to help keep the conversation loose, yet effective. “For many of the teens I work with, having a parent look them in the face and tell them something can be very embarrassing,” she says.

When initiating a conversation, consider timing. Check in with your teen when the time is right- when no one is arguing and everyone is calm. You might only get a few short responses to your questions, but those few words can say a lot.

When you ask your child how he or she is doing, “be open, validating, and curious,” Dr. Nash recommends.

Show your teenager you can relate.

“There's a tendency for parents to sometimes tease a moody teen, but that only adds fuel to the fire and is invalidating,” Dr. Nash says.

Natasha Beck, Ph.D., a child and family health expert and founder of Dr. Organic Mommy, adds that it's helpful for parents to remind their child that they, too, are experiencing similar struggles related to the pandemic.