Being the parent of a teenager doesn’t come without challenges. They’re at a stage in their life where they’re going through loads of hormones and experiences, and this can sometimes mean that they shut down from communication with you. While you want to give them their own space, you also don’t want to lose your relationship, so how do you handle it? Let’s take a look at some effective ways to reconnect with your teen.
Ways That You Can Reconnect With Your Teen
Actually listen
Teenagers often feel misunderstood, and while it’s easy to shrug it off as a normal teenager response, it’s important to take the time to listen to what they’re saying to you. This means giving them your full attention and responding to them without judging what they’ve said. Be empathetic, and show interest in what they’re talking about. This will help communication to be open and honest. Not only that, it will help your teenager feel more understood.
Respect their privacy
It’s important to be involved in your teenager’s life, but it’s also equally important to respect their privacy. Even if you communicate well with your teenager, sometimes all they want is to be alone to deal with their day. They’re going through many different things right now, from social interactions to exams and homework – sometimes they might just need a bit of alone time to decompress. You’ll find that if you respect their privacy they will be more respectful to you too.
Show an interest in their hobbies
All teenagers have some sort of interest or hobby, and a great way for you to connect with your teenager is by showing an interest in them too. For example, if your teenager is regularly at the skatepark and wants to build their own custom deck, you could help them assemble it and buy all of the parts like skateboard trucks, wheels and custom decks. Not only will they love the fact you’re interested in something they are, but it will give you the chance to complete a project together and share the feeling of accomplishment
Encourage independence
As much as you might hate the idea of them growing up, it’s also important for you to encourage them to be more independent. If you smother them and do everything for them, not only will they become irritated with you, but you’ll be taking the chance for them to learn valuable skills away from them. You need to take a step back and allow them to make mistakes and learn from them. Be supportive and show that you believe in them as this will help with their self-esteem.
Find something you both like doing
Finally, while you need to give them space and independence, it’s also important to have quality time to catch up. Rather than forcing conversation, why not find something you like doing? Whether it’s a film series or a sport you both enjoy, doing things together will naturally bring conversation. So, no matter how busy your schedules are, set time aside to do something you’ll both enjoy!
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