Healthy Tides

3 Ways to Help Your Child or Teen Feel Less Lonely

11.24.2025 | Heather Cooper

Have you heard that many kids and teens feel lonely? On first thought, that can be surprising – aren’t people, young and old, more connected than ever with all the technology in use? But when you consider it more closely, it becomes easier to understand.

A Look at Loneliness

A mother and daughter chat over hot drinks

Many kids who spend time online have access to engage with peers, friends, family and others at various times throughout their waking hours, interacting with likes, shares, game play and comments. That’s connection, right? In a way, yes, but it can also be isolating. Sometimes, seeing what others are doing and how they’re living leads youth to make comparisons to their own lives. They may feel that they receive less attention or experience less fun, joy or adventure than others. This may make them feel different, weird or misunderstood, leading to feeling lonely.

Kids who spend less time, or no time, online can feel lonely, even if they’re surrounded by lots of people most days. They may be with other students all school day, and be amongst peers at afterschool activities, but might not feel close connection, a sense of belonging, or validation. Oftentimes kids feel pressure to fit in and don’t feel confident to live as their authentic selves. When they don’t feel safe to be themselves, it can feel isolating.

Family life has long provided a sense of security and a feeling of togetherness, but as life gets busy and more demanding, with each family member’s attention divided, it’s easy to go from one responsibility or chore to the next without feeling you have the time and energy for true daily connection. Due to this, it’s possible to feel lonely even amidst the hustle and bustle of a busy family household.

The good news is that there are many small, free and easy things that parents and caregivers can do to support their child or teen with reducing feelings of loneliness. Here are three ways to help your child or teen feel seen, heard, valued and connected.

Show Interest and Appreciation

Be curious about your child’s interests and activities. Listen attentively when they share, even if it’s not a topic that would normally interest you. Ask questions: “Why is she your favorite player.” “What is their best song, in your opinion” “How do you earn points playing that game?” Watch, with genuine interest, when they show you the YouTube video that made them laugh.

Respond with validation and appreciation for sharing. “I can see why you like that. Thanks for showing me.” Or “I love that you heard about this and took it upon yourself to learn more. You have such cool interests!”

Consider learning more about the topic on your own and asking your child about it from time to time. Inquire in a way that’s casual, curious and non-judgmental. Pick the right times to ask, when your child or teen is rested and relaxed. Follow their cues, and if they aren’t interested in sharing at that particular time, try again another day.

Encourage your child to explore additional hobbies and interests as well. Each new interest can come with a community of others, and you never know when a quality relationship will bud from a shared interest.

Create and Maintain Family Routines and Traditions

Kids and teens thrive with routines, structure and traditions. Routines and structure help them know what to expect, give a rhythm to the days and weeks and create a sense of security. Routines can include family meals, dedicated weekly chore time, bedtime winding down activities, family game or movie night and more. Structure can include setting limits for screen time. Check out the Family Media Plan tool from the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Traditions provide comfort and a sense of belonging through shared experiences. They connect us to one another and to our past. Add family traditions throughout the year – they’re not just for the holidays. Some families have simple traditions for the first and last day of the school year, for solstice, or for family birthdays. Include your child or teen in creating traditions for your family.

Participating in and contributing to family life and household functioning helps your child feel important, valued and connected.

Provide Support with Social Skills

Strong social skills can help your child with making and maintaining friendships. Consider these questions:

Is your child able to share, take turns and compromise?
Considering their age, are they able to be flexible when plans change?
Do they show empathy to others?
Do they apologize when they make a mistake that impacts others?
Are they open to other points of view and ways of being, and can they voice their own point of view?
Can they name their feelings?

You are your child’s biggest role model. When you go about a normal day, take opportunities to point out when you are demonstrating these skills. “It was our year to have the holiday party, and I was looking forward to it, but auntie asked to host, so we talked about it and decided to trade years.” “I’m sorry that I raised my voice and acted annoyed when I was working on getting dinner in the oven.”

Use the stories you read together or movies you view together to reinforce positive social skills. “I liked how the main character noticed a new kid at school and invited them to play at recess.”

Watch for Symptoms of Depression

Sometimes kids and teens who feel lonely develop depression and become unable to successfully take part in school, family and social activities. Depression can also result in isolation and loneliness.

Notice and take action if your child is feeling very sad or withdrawn for two or more weeks. Contact their doctor and be specific about the behaviors you’re seeing. In the meantime, talk with your child about a plan for coping and managing strong emotions to prevent a crisis.

Seattle Children’s Psychiatric Urgent Care offers in-person and video visits for same-day mental health support for children and teens ages 4 through 17 who may not need the services of an emergency department.

If your child needs help right away, call 988, text 988 or live chat with 988. The free and confidential 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in the United States to provide support for people in distress, as well as prevention and crisis resources.