Young adults may have picked up some bad habits in lockdown – more screentime, less sleep – but many have also picked up good ones like daily exercise and more involvement in running the household, says family coach Yvonne Godfrey.
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"We've made some tremendous progress. We've found out people are more important than things… so the key now is not to become complacent and go back to life as it was."
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Godfrey doesn't use the word teenager much – 'young adult' intimates someone on the pathway to adulthood, she says.
"Whenever a young person contributes it creates ownership, it's a stake in the ground. It's our home, it's not mum's home and I'm her little helper.
"I'm pleased to say that has been shattered left, right and centre… now people are starting to come together and say 'This is our home – how can we do it better?
One of the greatest skills parents can equip teenage children with is the confidence that they can function in different environments and different areas of life, Godfrey says.
Young people tend to magnify feelings and haven't yet fully developed the ability to perceive the long-term.
Encourage them to think of their plans being delayed, not destroyed and look toward what they can do, rather than what they can't do.
Volunteer work is rewarding and also looks fantastic on a CV, Godfrey says.
"What have you done for others that you didn't get rewarded for? That shows a lot about your character and work ethic.
"The whole purpose of growing up is to increase capacity … Clearly we don't want to push [young people] over the edge but we want them to be growing every day, whether Covid-19 is happening or not."
Yvonne Godfrey is the Founder and Director of MIOMO which focuses on transitioning teens to adults. She's the author of several books, including Making It On My Own - Smart Ways to Smash it in the Real World and Parenting Yadults - How To Set Up Your Young Adult For Independence And Success In Life.
