The teenage period is a turbulent period both for teenagers and their parents. This is the period when teens explore, meet new people and experiment with new behaviours. It is perfectly normal unless it involves things such as drug, cigarette, or alcohol abuse, acts of violence, or other illegal activities. Parents should be on alert all the time, paying attention to certain things such as who their teens are hanging with, where, when they will be back and what they will be doing. They should also be highly tolerant, understanding and attentive. It has been shown that a good relationship with parents is positively correlated with success in school as well as overall happiness. On the other hand, conflicting or weak parent-teen relationships might lead to early sexual activity, substance abuse, or involvement in violent acts. Parents should try to listen to their teens and try to create a positive relationship with them; keep reading to learn more about some essential tips for parents of teens.
1. Try to be
understanding
Teenagers need to feel secure, safe and loved no matter what.
They usually feel as if their parents don’t understand and appreciate them, and
this is exactly what they crave: a friendship-like relationship. You as a
parent should find some balance and let your teen feel independent, without
crossing some boundaries of what is considered to be normal behaviour. If you
shape your relationship in such a way that you are close, without jeopardizing
your role as a parent but at the same time being able to suggest something or
advise them subtly, your teen is more likely to be open and share things with
you. Mutual trust is the key here.
2. Be mindful of
certain behaviours
While going through this awkward phase of life, teenagers tend
to exhibit some behavioural changes, which is perfectly normal. This happens on
the way of searching for their identity. Slamming doors, refusing to talk and
rolling eyes are all normal actions of a typical teenager. Even though this
might be difficult, you need to know that it is something that will end at some
point. However, sometimes these behaviours exceed the boundaries of normal
conduct. These can be emotional, behavioural and learning problems. A troubled
teen might engage in some high-risk activities such as drinking, abusing drugs,
violence, sex and skipping school. Some of these actions can have detrimental
effects, so you should be pretty watchful in order to be able to act promptly
if there is some issue. For example, if you are concerned that your teen might
be using drugs, you can buy some drug testing kits and check.
That will help you in resolving ongoing issues.
3. Spend time
together
It’s essential to check in with your teen every single day. A
few minutes of conversation can mean a lot to your relationship and building
trust. Be tuned in your teen’s life and aware of the happenings. Even though it
might seem contrary, teens do appreciate a good night's hug. Dedicate some time
every week to doing things that you both enjoy. That will strengthen your bond
considerably. And when your bond is strong, your teen is less likely to lie to
you or engage in doing things that you wouldn’t approve of.
4. Get to know their friends’ parents
Actively parenting means getting to know your teen’s friends’
parents, among other things. This is key as it can help you in being familiar
with where your teen is, what they’re up to and whether they’re supervised by
adults. Have in mind that it can happen that some other parents don’t have the
same view on parenting and certain rules as you do.
5. Encourage
self-care
Teaching your teen self-care is one of the basic and most
important skills you can teach them. This is something that they’re going to
need for the rest of their life. Self-care includes anything by which you
somehow take care of yourself. This includes good sleeping habits, doing
exercises, enriching your soul and mind spiritually, eating a well-balanced
diet and generally having healthy life habits. For example, teens should avoid
coffee, as it can interfere with their sleep patterns. Also, screen time should
be limited, especially before bedtime as it impedes melatonin production which
causes sleep problems.
6. Have joint meals
Enjoying a meal together every day is not about the food per se.
It is about sharing, talking and feeling like a part of a healthy collective.
It is a great opportunity to spend a little time together every day, to unwind
and bond. This can be an ideal time to just hang out and talk.
Raising a teen is by no means an easy task. It is a period full of challenges and parents need to be well-equipped with patience, perseverance, tolerance and endurance.
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