You know when your child has reached the lovely teen years when they are making issues about things that never were a problem before. Your teen may also be found quite irritable at times and having little desire to hang out with you like they used to. The teen years are extremely difficult but each parent struggles with different issues. One of the biggest things a parent can do during the teen years is to make sure there’s time to bond with your teen. Before long your teen will be an adult and leave the nest. Today I wanted to share a few tips for parents who are looking for easy ways to bond with their teen.
Stop the Life Lessons
When you start to think of ways to bond with your teen, the first thing to remember is that you have to stop the life lessons. No matter what you and your teen are doing together to bond, refrain from any life lesson commentary during your quality time together. This will encourage the trust and communication to keep flowing during bonding moments.
Watch a Movie
There’s nothing better for a parent and teen to do than bond over a movie. Often times your teen doesn’t feel like talking, they tend to enjoy the silence. When you opt to watch a movie with your teen, it opens the doors to a bonding moment where you enjoy snacks and a good flick together. This moment in time can inspire other bonding activities to happen with your teen.
Play a Sport
If your teen is into sports and you aren’t sure how to enjoy this activity with them, try to learn. Ask your teen to take you to the local park to teach you their favorite sport. Chances are that you should have the equipment on hand for your teen’s favorite sport, if not find a local place that has the equipment ready for use by any community member, such as a recreational center and enjoy this time together.
Start a Garden
Get outside and get your hands dirty with your teen by starting a garden. It’s about that time of year when spring is starting to shine through and many people are starting their garden. As you both learn how to start growing your own vegetables, flowers, and fruits together you’ll find the bonding happens naturally. This can be quite fun to do with your teen!
Help with a Project
The high school years can be rather difficult with new essays, projects, and preparation for college. Offer your time to help your teen with a project that they’ve been working on. This will help them feel loved because you’re showing interest in doing something with them and it will help you encourage a deeper level of bond with your teen.
These years are not for the faint of heart. Raising teens brings a whole new level to your parenting role. While these teen years may seem difficult and at times frustrating, it will be okay. Try to do some of the tips I shared today with your teen to help keep that parent and child bond intact.
I am just starting to get into this portion of our lives. The tips like this might help us as we grow together. I try really hard to stay close to my kids and I will try anything to stay that way.
I was intrigued about Stop the Life Lessons! I get that you are talking about the lectures, but I would be interested to see if there was a way to get those in without sounding like a lecture.
My teen grandkids and I love sports so we bond by playing sports together, watching sports on TV and of course, I’m at every single game cheering them on.
These are some great ideas. I have a teen, and I just ask him about video games. That seems to get him to talk. Or if I bring him food, that helps too.
I can imagine it is quite hard when they are a teen, but watching a movie together and grabbing a bite to eat is sure to be a winner!
I really agree with stopping the life lessons! When I was a teen, I didn’t care to hear about “when I was your age” or the equivalent. Enjoy the time together. If your teen asks, then tell them.
My kids aren’t teens yet but I’m already preparing myself mentally for this stage. Your first step rings so true, and yet I always find myself tempted to give those life lessons. Thank you for this reminder!
These sound like some great tips to help people bond with there teens. The teenage years are such a hard time with all those hormones running wild!
We have an almost 13 year old and while he is a good kid, the attitude is unmatched. I’ve been trying to think of things to do together and this is a great list.
My oldest is 13 and we actually do things that you’ve listed here. Guess I’m on the right track!
My favorite night of the week is Friday, when the whole family (me, my wife and our two teen boys) sit on the couch and catch up on our favorite TV shows together. It really is the best bonding and we must be crazy lucky parents, because our kids love it too.
I do play sports with my younger son who’s really into basketball and baseball, and my older son loves video games. So I do my best to play separately but also to get all three of us playing together.
I agree that getting out there and doing stuff with them is the best way to bond. Making memories is where it’s at!!
Wonderful tips that will help for sure! I will definitely follow these hacks!
I really enjoyed reading this post. These are all wonderful tips. My son lives helping me with my vegetable.
I know it’s pretty hard to cope up with teens. I found all of this very helpful. It takes a lot of patience and persitent.
Gardening is such a good bonding experience for parents and teens. My son enjoy doing that with me.
My son and I watched a movie this weekend and we had fun. It is always a joy to spend time with him like that.
my kids are not yet teens, I scared those teen ages. I am looking forward too also. May your tips will comes in handy.
I’m not yet at that point in my life but I can imagine how difficult it must be for parents and teens during this time.
I really hope my husband and I are able to bond with our son when he gets older. I don’t want him to hate us, that’s for sure!! I would be so so happy if my son grows up to want to play golf, just like his dad!