Communicating with your teen may seem like the end of the world. This is a difficult age for parents and children. The teen years are full of moments where your child will push you away and then pull you close. It’s a time where your child wants to be more independent but still needs your unconditional love and support.
Teenagers are often horrible at communicating with their parents. I’m not sure why, but it seems grunts and “I don’t know” are the two most famous catchphrases for teens. With all that being said, communicating with your teen can happen and it doesn’t have to be stressful. Use my tips to start communicating with your teen so that you can continue enjoying time with your teen without so much silence or grunts.
Be a Listener
Now is not the time to start giving lectures about life lessons. Believe it or not, most times your teen already knows the way to handle difficult situations or challenging topics with their peers. If your teen is confiding in you about something that concerns them then, be a good listener. Hear everything they’re saying and don’t interrupt. Only when they’re finished should you try to have a discussion about what they’ve said.
Don’t Make it a Life Lesson
Teenagers will shut down as quick as a whip if they feel like you’re lecturing them or giving them sort of life lesson chat. Once your teen has finished talking to you about something, if they stick around and seem open to a discussion, then ask questions. Asking direct questions will help you better understand how your teen feels about the topic and if perhaps, you can sneak in a little tip that can help them.
Spend Time Together
You may find that your teen is very sporadic with how they communicate with you. One day they may be all chipper and overly talkative, then the next day barely utters a word to you. This is quite common with teenagers. Consider taking a few moments each day to sit with your teen or take a drive so that you two can have some time together, this may help them open up.
Show Trust
Teens strive to earn your trust just as much as you want to trust them. Find ways to trust your teen with big decisions or specific tasks. You could volunteer a decision about something that maybe the family is debating or consider giving them a curfew to show that you trust them and will provide them with some lead way to make decisions as long as they continue to follow household rules.
Taking the time to listen, communicate with lecturing, spending time together and showing trust will all work together in a magical way to help you communicate better with your teen. I hope that you’ll use my tips shared today to start opening up the communication lines between your teen and you today.
Yup, I try to do all of these with my teens. With my daughter, she loves to shop so that’s how I can get her to kind of open up.
It is not easy, but I know I need to do a better job on the listening step. Great tips.
Yep on teenagers and talking. I have 2 teens so I know all to well on the grunts.
I can say that it’s definitely a process. My teen and I have been working on communication over the last year and have found that she’s finally opening up more.
We have tried to have open communication with all of our kids throughout their lives.
This is such a battle for us right now. My daughter is 14 and there are so many clashes going on. It is a tough time! Thanks for the tips.
These are all wonderful tips. My son is 18 and raising teenagers has its challenges.
OOO, not telling a ‘life lesson” story is sooooo hard! I can see why now, why you wouldn’t want to do that each and every time.
I agree to all your tips, I will share this on my social media.
My eldest is about to be a teen so this was a great read. My middle daughter is already there on the mental front. I try to listen as much as I can and will single them out to share any concerns they may have without the siblings getting involved. It’s important to talk.
Thank you for these great ideas. I have a 12 year old and have been trying to spend more quality time with her.
I have a teen son and I totally agree with all of these. I listen when he talks, and spends as much time with him as possible.
My daughter is not a teen just yet but just a few months away. So far she is not moody or hard to talk with at all.
I am looking for new ways to comunicate with my kid. I was thinking a daily one or two hours walk where I can listen her without other distractions.
There’s no right or wrong parenting. Dealing with teens are really stressful sometimes. Glad mine will take years before i deal with it.
These are some really good tips. I don’t have any teens yet, but it’s coming up quick. My oldest is 12, so she’ll be a teen next year.
Teens can be tough to understand nowadays. This is a great thing to learn how to do.
Couldn’t agree more with your points. I am not yet a mom but a have teen cousins. Having a good bond and open communication with your teens.
These are such great tips for the parents of teenagers ? I know of someone who will find this post super helpful!
These are very good tips. I especially agree with the trust. I know that means so much to my daughter.
Great tips! I love the spending time together one. I think we often assume they don’t want to spend time with us but when we give them our full attention it often is enjoyable for everyone!