Having a teenager is both rewarding and challenging at the same time. The fact that they made it to their teenage years is a proud parent moment but the rollercoaster of emotions that come with the territory can be difficult to navigate. As your relationship with your child evolves, striking the right balance between being their parent and their friend is tricky. You want to continue to be that authoritative figure with them but you also want them to be open and honest with you about everything. These 9 parenting tips for the teenage years should help give you a boost of confidence as you parent your teen.
1. Give your teen some space
As your child gets older, you will notice that they start to enjoy their privacy a lot more. You may notice them staying in their room more than they used to. When they do this, try not to take it personally. This is your teen becoming more independent. The good thing about this is, they are testing these boundaries within the comfort of your home. Stay engaged with your teen during this period but allow them to have their own space and a healthy amount of privacy.
2. Keep the conversation going
Dialogue between you and your teen should continue no matter what age they are. Staying engaged shows you care and it will motivate them to talk to you about some of the challenges they are experiencing. Distancing yourself from your teen as they get older is not a very good idea. You may have to work a little bit harder to find things to talk about but it is worth the effort.
3. Avoid constant criticism and lecturing
Offering constructive criticism from time to time is normal but criticizing your teen on a regular basis can lead to resentment. And the last thing that you want your teen to do is resent you. Because that can lead to a breakdown in communication and trust. Balance your offering of advice, lecturing and criticisms with positive reinforcement. Compliment your teen on the things that they are doing in their life that you are genuinely proud of. Doing this will offset the lectures that you give them about things that they are doing in their life that you may not necessarily agree with.
4. Keep things fun
Even though it may seem at times that you have a hardened teen, there is still a big part of them that craves fun and positivity. It becomes more about how you can evoke those emotions out of them. Think back to when they were just little and how they wanted to play with you when you were not in the mood whatsoever. After some relentless begging and persistence on their part, what ended up happening? You gave in and started to play, laugh and have fun. As your teen gets older, it’s perfectly ok to regress to old behaviors of fun, playfulness and positivity. In most cases, this is comforting to your teen.
5. Spend time together
Spending time together can be a little tougher as your kid gets older but it’s important. Not only is spending time with your teen important but your teen deserves your undivided attention. Yes, that means turning off the notification on your devices when possible. The activities you do together will change as they get older but the bonding experience that the both of you have should not change. Being plugged in and engaged with your teen will strengthen your relationship.
6. Be attentive and observant
If we’re being realistic, your teen is not going to keep you informed of everything that is going on in their life. Think back to when you were a teen, did you keep your parents in the loop about everything? Chances are, probably not. So it’s important to be observant but not in an intrusive way. Pay close attention to their patterns. If there are no real significant and alarming changes in their behavior then all you can do is trust that they are managing their emotions and feelings appropriately. If there are significant changes in their behavior then it would be a good idea to check in with your teen and effectively communicate with them.
7. Be open-minded
With the onset of Social Media, kids are subjected to a variety of information. A lot more than 20 years ago. They are going to see and hear things that you may not have heard of or seen when you were their age. Because of this, it’s key to remain open minded so that your teen can see you as an ally. They may come to you with information that may or may not be appropriate. And instead of scrutinizing what they have told you, take this as a learning opportunity to reinforce good parenting.
This can be something simple as a song that they heard that you may or may not agree with. If you don’t agree with it, the best thing to do is vocalize your thoughts and feelings about it and set realistic boundaries with your teen. Being open-minded decreases the chances of either one of you becoming combative which leads to a more open and honest relationship.
8. Show interest in your teens schoolwork
During the school year, make an effort to ask your teen about how school is going. More specifically, ask about what they are learning. Maybe simply ask what their favorite subject is or which subject they like the least. Staying engaged with their schoolwork can help you find more commonalities. Because if your teen really likes math, you might like math too. This can lead to you helping them with their homework or doing activities together that involve math. Even if they share with you a subject that they don’t like or are having a challenging time with, this gives you an opportunity to give your teen some guidance.
9. Communicate
This may sound straightforward but communicating effectively with a teenager is not always the easiest thing to accomplish. With hormones racing and the onset of more workload from school, a teenager has to make a variety of changes in such a short period of time. Communication is imperative during the teen years. It may not always be easy to communicate with your teenager, but always make an effort to keep the lines of communication open. Do this from a place of empathy, love and compassion. They will appreciate this approach in the long run.
Takeaway
Emotions run high during the teenage years. It’s important as parents to continue to be a teens source of stability and familiarity. Providing unconditional love and support will help your teen through these important years. Communicating effectively with your teen will make a significant difference as well. Implement one or more of these tips and continue to do the best you can, you got this.
17 Ways To Be A Good Dad To A Toddler
How Often Should A 14 Year Old Shave?
11 Things A Daughter Needs To Hear From Her Dad
Recent posts
