Planning for the Future with Your Teen after the Pandemic

Planning for the Future with Your Teen

Alimental Life • April 3, 2022

Do you remember what it was like to be a Junior or Senior in high school? While we all have our own experiences, many of us in the baby boomers, gen x and millennials were told, we could be anything. All we have to do is work hard, show up, and stick to a path. Go to school, get good grades so you can go to college, get a good job. This job would afford you the financial freedom to find a partner, get married, establish a household and support a family. Before the computer era, our parents worked hard, physically. The dream was to find a job where you could sit at a desk, in doors, temperature controlled. An environment that kept you out of the sun, that allowed for self-care and a nine to five that would allow you to be home with your family. As opposed to the 12-hour days on the farm or 10-hour days in the factory.

With the invention of the computer and the shift toward everything becoming digital. We've lost the balance our parents and grandparents yearned for us to have. The digital age has taken over full force and the majority of us have become slaves to our computers and devices. While the physical toll isn't the same as it was on our parents. Sedentary lives are still detrimental to our health in other new ways we never imagined.

Now fast forward to the pandemic. Everyone one moving their offices into their homes, working remotely and the boundaries of nine to five have seemed to blur. Children being picked up from school, only to feel isolated in their own home, as mom and dad work from home. Watching their parents physically struggle with immobility and obesity that the sedentary lives have created. Parents feeling the pressure of paying bills for the house and things their jobs have provided, being slaves to the college debt that they are still paying off 20 years after they have graduated… all for what? To have things, and debt that pull you away from your relationships? To have a job that is more important than your own health?

As we embark on 2022, two years post the start of the pandemic, the world has drastically changed. The impact of the pandemic on adults and small children is rather clear. However, the impact this pandemic has had on our teens/young adults has been rather silent.

Now, imagine being a teen at the start of the pandemic. It's your Junior or Senior year of high school - the world has just opened up to you, and the pandemic hits. All social ties have been severed at a time when you're supposed to be navigating relationships and conflicts. Imagine the most challenging subjects you experienced in high school, moving to online learning. Not having the kid next to you to ask questions, or the girl you had a crush on to tutor you between classes. Imagine being locked in your home all day, with little to no social interaction. Imagine watching your parents struggle to adapt to working from home and work life balance, paranoid about losing their jobs that they've worked so hard their entire lives to get. Now imagine being an A/B student, suddenly falling behind at school, getting C's and D's because the online learning platform has failed them. Mentors you may have relied on in school, such as coaches, teachers and school counselors, all inaccessible. Social activities canceled, soccer practice, dance class, marching band, drama, art class, all canceled.

It's no wonder our children are struggling with depression and anxiety. They too have been told to follow this societal norm of go to school, get good grades, go to college… on and on. But for what!? To end up like their parents, burnt out, exhausted, unhealthy and in debt. And even if they wanted to continue down this path, the hole the pandemic has created feels monumental and impossible to crawl out of. I'm seeing 18yr olds, who should have graduated at 17th, frustrated to the point of wanting to check out of life, because they see no hope. They feel like failures, they have failed classes, they haven't been able to keep up and they don't realize that they are not alone. Being socially isolated. Every single one of these 19yr olds who are having an existential crisis, ready to go rogue or take their lives, has no idea that they are part of a national crisis created by the pandemic. They don't fully comprehend that what we are living through right now, is not the norm. They see the future being dim and impossible given the constraints they have been asked to live within.

Because of this, I'm seeing more and more teens seeking pathways away from standardized learning, desk jobs and the corporate world. Some are eager to remove themselves from the trauma that is high school and jump right into getting a GED. Not seeing the need for a traditional education when they have everything they ever need to know in their pocket, thank you to YouTube. Others are so terrified of the jail that is the 'home office' that they are actively looking for jobs that take them outside and provide the opportunity to do physical labor. Others are heart set on content creation or entrepreneurship. All of which are viable career paths!

This shift is not surprising. What is surprising is the response these teens are receiving from their parents and guardians. Many parents/guardians are in survival mode themselves. Aware of their teen's struggles but disconnected from the reality that they are living in. Having to have these stressful conversations can be devastating and emotional for all involved. Below are some helpful guidelines to make these talks more productive for both parties:

Set aside dedicated time in a neutral environment for the most effective conversation (This is not a conversation to have on the way home in the car, at the dinner table or when you're able to corner them into their room). Make it a fun activity, think of it as a get to know you session. Do things you would do if you were to go on a date, go for a walk, take an outing to get FroYo or Dutch Bros.
Start the conversation with: What do you want your life to look like? Do you want to travel, do you want a family, do you want to work 9-5 or do you want to work four tens? What kind of car do you want to drive? Where do you want to live? Let conversations develop as self-discovery and brainstorming sessions, using open ended questions and leaving space for reflection.
Put yourself in their shoes and vice versa. Examine your own motivations for wanting a different future for your child. Make a point to explain why you're so passionate about college, what benefits it's afforded you. Then listed as they rebuttal with their own thoughts. You might be surprised by their perspective.
Have both parties come prepared with research as needed? For example, if a teen is wanting to pursue their GED. Have they checked to see that it will qualify them for their future career choice? Compare timelines, finances and expectations based on solid data. This is most effective when the teen can be responsible for finding these answers and making their own choices with that information.
Let your child dream big. This is a time of self-discovery!You may learn something new from your child. Sometimes the best mirror we have is our offspring.
Keep in mind the true goal is to provide the tools needed to allow your teen to make good decisions and develop into an empowered, confident adult. Giving them the space to plan and explore a future path, even when it is different than what you expected, will help them develop a forward-thinking perspective that will serve them well throughout their life.

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How Parents Can Spark Curiosity to Raise Motivated, Engaged Learners

By Linda Chase • June 9, 2026

How Parents Can Spark Curiosity to Raise Motivated, Engaged Learners Parents of school-age children often notice a shift: the endless “why” questions start to fade, and school becomes something to finish rather than explore. The challenge isn’t a lack of ability, it’s that schedules, pressure to perform, and fear of mistakes can quietly crowd out children’s natural curiosity. When curiosity shrinks, self-motivated learning becomes harder, and even capable kids can disengage. Nurturing curiosity now supports engaged learners and lays a steady foundation for nurturing child development. Why Curiosity Fuels Learning Momentum Curiosity is the brain’s way of saying, “This matters, pay attention.” When kids get to wonder, test ideas, and notice patterns, they build stronger thinking skills through repeated practice. That sense of pull matters because intrinsic motivation helps learning feel chosen, not assigned. It matters because curiosity makes effort easier to sustain. A child who feels safe to ask and experiment is more likely to persist through confusion and bounce back from mistakes. Over time, that steady engagement supports deeper understanding and more flexible problem-solving. Think of curiosity like a mental spark that lights the next step. A child who asks how a bike gear works may read, tinker, and try again after a failed attempt. The learning sticks because the question belonged to them. When curiosity has room to show up, modeling it at home starts to feel natural and doable. Make Learning Visible: A Parent Model Kids Can Copy When kids see curiosity in action, they learn that questions and effort are what keep learning moving. Let your learning be something they can actually notice: ask questions out loud, show genuine excitement when you discover an answer, and be willing to try a new skill even when you’re rusty. That might look like watching you puzzle through a problem, saying, “I’m not sure yet,” and staying engaged anyway, so exploration feels normal, not performative. Earning an online degree can reinforce that message by building your knowledge and confidence while fitting around real family schedules. For relevant context , an online accounting degree could deepen your business acumen and teach you how to read financial statements, understand auditing, and work with generally accepted accounting principles. Build a Home That Invites Discovery: 7 Simple Setups A curiosity-friendly home doesn’t need to look like a classroom. A few intentional “yes spaces” and routines make it normal for kids to explore, especially when they see you learning out loud, too. Create a visible “grab-and-go” book nook: Put 15–25 books where kids already linger (couch, kitchen table, bedside), not tucked on a high shelf. Rotate a few each week, mix comics, how-to books, and picture-heavy nonfiction so every reading mood has an option. Keep a small basket for “I want to ask about this” bookmarks so questions turn into conversations. Make the library a predictable family ritual: Pick one day every 1–2 weeks and keep it short, 30 minutes is enough to browse, check out, and reset interest. Give each child a simple mission such as “one fun book, one new-topic book, and one audio book,” and let them lead. Tie it to your modeling from earlier: check out a book for yourself too and share one surprising thing you learned at dinner. Set up an “open-ended builders bin” for daily tinkering: Choose educational toys and resources that can be used a hundred ways, blocks, connectors, gears, magnetic tiles, marble-run pieces, then store them in one clear bin kids can access without help. A gentle prompt like “Can you build something that stands up to a shake test?” invites problem-solving without turning it into a lesson. Many families like building sets because building toys can help students understand concepts about architecture, structural stability, measurements, design, and more . Keep a low-mess art and making station always ready: Stock a small caddy with paper, pencils, markers, tape, glue stick, scissors, and a recycled-materials box (cardboard, bottle caps, scrap fabric). The key is “open, not perfect”: a washable tablecloth and a simple cleanup routine (“make, photo, reset”) protects your sanity. Use it to support hobbies, comic drawing, model-making, fashion sketches, whatever your child keeps returning to. Designate a “kitchen science” shelf for hands-on learning: Pick 5–8 safe items for experiments, measuring cups, food coloring, vinegar, baking soda, magnets, a small scale, and store them together. Add a notebook labeled “What we noticed” so kids can draw results or write one sentence. When you’re learning visibly, narrate your own wondering: “I’m not sure why it foams, what should we try next?” Use learning apps as tools, not babysitters: Choose one or two apps that match a current interest (space, coding puzzles, language, music) and set a simple boundary such as 15–20 minutes, then “show me one thing.” Ask for a tiny teach-back, one new word, one strategy, one level they found tricky, so the screen time turns into shared learning. Carve out a hobby-friendly space with “permission to pause”: Give each child a small spot, desk corner, shelf, or rolling cart, where ongoing projects can stay out for a few days. Add a “parking lot” sticky note so they can stop mid-project without losing momentum: “Next time I will…”. This reduces quitting because taking breaks feels like part of the process, not a failure. Curiosity and Motivation Questions Parents Ask Q: How do I motivate my child without turning everything into a reward? A: Focus praise on effort and strategy, not outcomes: “You tried two ways,” or “You kept going when it was tricky.” Offer privileges that fit the activity, like extra time to continue a project, instead of prizes for performance. Ask what they want to get better at, then support the first small step. Q: What should I do when my child says learning is “boring” or “too hard”? A: Treat it as information, not defiance. Encourage open communication questions like “Which part is the worst?” and “What would make it 10 percent easier?” Then adjust one variable: shorter time, clearer directions, or a choice of topics. Q: How much help is too much when they get stuck? A: Aim for a hint, not a takeover. Try “What have you already tried?” then offer two options and let them pick. If frustration rises, take a reset break and return with a smaller, winnable piece. Q: When should I step in if they quit quickly? A: Step in when quitting is about overwhelm, not preference. Use a calm “pause plan” like “Stop, write the next move, and we’ll try for five minutes later.” Consistency matters more than intensity. Q: How can I celebrate small wins without bribing or pressuring? A: Celebrate the process with specific feedback and a shared moment: a photo, a high-five, or showing someone what they made. Help them set a tiny target since SMART goals keep progress concrete without adding pressure. Keep Curiosity Alive With Small Shifts and Steady Support It’s easy to want kids to stay motivated while also worrying about pushing too hard or stepping back too far. The path forward is a curiosity-first mindset: use parental support techniques that protect questions, invite reflection, and make learning feel safe to explore. Over time, sustaining curiosity builds long-term engagement and keeps motivation rooted in meaning, not pressure. Curiosity grows when kids feel safe to wonder and capable of figuring things out. Choose one small change this week, like pausing to ask one better question and then listening, that keeps momentum toward motivating self-directed learning and encouraging continuous exploration. That steady approach strengthens resilience, confidence, and connection as learning becomes a lifelong habit.