Helping Your Son Manage Stress and Worry: Practical Tips for Parents

Adolescence is a transformative period that, despite being filled with new experiences and growth, can also come with big emotions and new challenges. For many boys, it can come with increased stress and anxiety. As parents and caregivers, it’s vital to recognise this, and to equip your boys with the tools to develop resilience as a way of helping them manage their feelings.

The Ambrose Team at St Augustine’s College (College Counsellors) is here to offer support and guidance for all our boys and their families, and we are happy to share some practical strategies that aim to help you navigate your sons’ emotional wellbeing:

1. Be a Positive Role Model

Boys often learn by observing those closest to them. Therefore, how we as parents manage our own stress can have a significant impact on how our sons deal with their own worries. If you demonstrate healthy coping mechanisms—such as staying calm under pressure, seeking help when needed, exercising or practising mindfulness—your son is more likely to adopt similar habits. Modelling resilience and self-care, whilst teaching the boys about recognising their own stress, can be a powerful skill to have in their toolkits.

2. Foster Open Communication

Creating an environment where your son feels comfortable discussing his worries is perhaps the most important part of this work. We suggest regularly checking in with your son, encouraging him to express his feelings without the fear of judgement, ideally whilst engaged in another activity together (e.g. cooking, driving, walking). Sometimes boys may not immediately open up, so it can help to be patient whilst offering reassurance about the normality of feeling stressed and anxious during these stages of life. Active listening—where you respond with empathy and validation of his feelings, rather than problem-solving or being dismissive —can go a long way here. Simply knowing that they have a trusted adult to talk to can make a big difference in how they manage stress. A good family habit that cultivates and normalises open communication is eating a meal together each day.

3. Encourage Healthy Habits

Physical wellbeing via diet and exercise plays a crucial role in our emotional health. Encourage your son to maintain a balanced lifestyle by getting enough sleep, eating a nutritious diet, and engaging in regular physical activities. Whether he’s playing sport, going for a walk, or practising relaxation techniques like yoga or mindfulness, these habits have proven time and time again to help reduce stress and boost overall mood. (More on this below).

4. Introduce Stress Management Techniques

Teaching your son how to manage stress from an early age can provide lasting skills when it comes to navigating life’s inevitable challenges. Slow deep-breathing exercises, journaling, and meditation are excellent ways to promote relaxation. Even simple activities like being outside or listening to music can offer significant emotional regulation. Encourage your son to openly explore activities that he enjoys; things like drawing, playing a musical instrument, or even reading, can all serve as healthy outlets for managing stress. Over time, these techniques can become second nature and are easily employed when stress levels rise.

5. Establish a Daily Routine

Feeling overwhelmed can rapidly lead to emotional dysregulation, which then leads to heightened stress and anxiety. A good way of managing this is though creating structure and a consistent routine, which can help with feeling more stable and in control, especially during stressful times. Help your son build a daily schedule that balances his schoolwork, extracurricular activities, relaxation, and time with family and friends. This will help him manage his time more effectively, therefore reducing overwhelm, whilst providing a sense of achievement and accomplishment. Incorporating downtime for activities that he enjoys is equally as important for his mental health.

6. Promote Problem-Solving Skills

Work with your son to develop his own problem-solving abilities. This is best done during well-regulated periods (i.e. not in the midst of a crisis or stressful situation!). This kind of contingency planning can be: identifying potential stressors and scenarios; brainstorming possible solutions; evaluating the outcomes/alternatives for each. Teaching him these skills can empower him to face challenges independently and build confidence and resilience, which will serve him well throughout his lifetime.

7. Know When to Seek Professional Help

Sometimes, the overwhelm that can come from stress and anxiety can feel like it’s too much to manage on your own, in which case professional help may be necessary. If your son’s stress seems persistent or is affecting his day-to-day life, please reach out to the Ambrose Team. We are available via email ambrose@saintaug.nsw.edu.au for guidance and support.

Remember, if you are ever in crisis or worried that your son’s safety is at risk, please contact emergency services or one of the helplines listed below for immediate assistance.

Supporting your son through his times of stress and worry is a vital part of his development and schooling years. By offering a nurturing, non-judgmental environment, promoting healthy habits and routines, and helping him learn about his own stress, you are providing him with the best tools for navigating this time of life and beyond.

And the Ambrose Team (Lucinda Morrison and Kim Bulloch) is here to help you every step of the way.