If you have teenagers, you will know that communication face-to-face is not one of their strengths. Unless you have a drama-loving daughter, who simply doesn’t want to stop talking. But that is just a rare exception. Closing up and blocking you out is natural when kids reach the teenage years. They will be more critical of adults and try to experiment with becoming more independent. Many of them get hurt in the process, though. Below you will find a few tips on how to support them through this transitional phase.
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Get Them Involved
One of the things you will need to do is make sure that they are involved in every decision, and you don’t just let them stay at home when you arrange family programs. Just because they might look at you as an enemy, they might connect with another family member. If you have grandparents living at home, you can help them build a positive relationship with your teen by allowing them to spend time together.
Keep Them Busy
To prevent your kids from doing the wrong thing and jumping on the bandwagon, copying the wrong peers, you will have to keep them busy. Give them chores, get them to help out around the house for their pocket money, or help them get a part-time job. This will fulfill their need for independence, and keep them out of trouble at the same time. You want them to stand out for all the right reasons, not the wrong ones.
Set Them Challenges
If you would like to be a supportive parent, you will need to find a way to set challenges for your kids. No matter if you are planning on rewarding them to pass their driving test the first time, or taking an extra language exam, you will have to show them a way to stand out and find their talent. If there is a challenge your family is facing, keeping your child focused on their long term goals might be a good idea.
Control Social Media
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When you grew up, chances are that there was less pressure. Yes, there were teen magazines and photoshopped pictures, even the internet, but not as much as now. It is important that you understand that you are responsible for the mental health of your kids. Social media regulation is still in its early stages, and there’s a lot of bullying going on. Not to mention the dangerous people trying to hurt your child. Put parental control on their phone and ensure that their location is on for you, but off for other people. If you feel like your child is addicted to social media, you might want to talk to Lake Wellness Center and find out how ongoing support can help.
If you want to avoid struggling with an unruly teenager and getting stressed out, you will need to create a long term plan to support your child, even when they don’t really want you around.
