Combating social isolation for adolescents during the pandemic

With the numbers of COVID-19 cases increasing, it gives us less opportunities to visit with friends and family during the holiday season. Feelings of isolation and longing for connection are likely to be more pronounced for many of us.

For those with teenagers in the home, this may become loud and clear. Adolescents need contact with their peers for healthy development. Many opportunities they had prior to the pandemic have been stifled or put on indefinite hold. Seeing friends at school, after-school activities, sports, and other social gatherings are some of the ways that kids develop their sense of identity and self-esteem, not to mention learning how to navigate the complex social and emotional factors that help them form healthy relationships throughout the lifespan.