Tonight with your 13 to 17 year old

The prompt

“Is there a physical thing you do that clears your head better than anything else?”

What to listen for

A clear answer means they've found a real tool for managing stress in their body, not just their thoughts, that's a skill worth naming out loud so they recognize how valuable it is. Encourage more of it rather than questioning why they need it.

If they mention something solitary, like running or shooting hoops alone, that's not a sign of isolation, it's often exactly the reset a teenager's brain needs, and should be respected as such.

If they say nothing really works, that's useful information, it might mean stress is piling up without a good outlet right now, worth keeping an eye on gently.

What this tells you

This tells you what actually helps them regulate when things get overwhelming, which is useful for you to know without turning into a prescription.