Creating a meaningful close parent teen relationship begins from the moment your teen is born. The foundations you lay out early on, will carry you into the difficult teen years. Kids are so inquisitive and will ask just about anything. Don’t shy away from the tough answers or you will slowly close the door on communication.
Of course, you’ll be answering in an age-appropriate manner, but don’t brush off the hard questions. You want your children to come to you when they need answers and support.

If you do have a problem with your teenager now, the best thing to do is to start correcting your own pattern of behavior. Of course, if you think there is a serious problem like substance abuse or depression, you also need to deal with that, but fixing your relationship is going to go a long way.

It’s now time to:

•  Spend more quality time with your kids.
•  Talk to them. Not just about difficult subjects, but get to know them and discuss all kinds of things.
•  Allow them their own thoughts and feelings. Just because their beliefs don’t fit in with yours, don’t mean they’re wrong.
•  Give your child as much control and independence as possible. It’s not worth fighting over the little things like what they wear or how they style their hair.
•  Know who your child is hanging out with and what she’s doing. Don’t nag. Have an open enough relationship, so you already have this information.
•  Allow your children to bring friends in the home and get to know them.
•  Listen to your children. Don’t feel compelled to hand out advice at every turn. Sometimes they just need someone to listen.
•  Respect their privacy.
•  When issues arise, discuss them diplomatically and don’t let things turn into an argument.
•  Show and tell your kids you love them every single day.

Teenagers are on the brink of adulthood and what happens now has a deep impact on the rest of their lives. Be sure you stay in your children’s lives and provide the supportive environment they need.

Recommended Resources:

Why not set up a free Parent Coaching Consultation? Parent coaching is for parents and caregivers of children of all ages who seek to enrich the bond between themselves and their child(ren).

How to Talk So Teens Will Listen & Listen So Teens Will Talk: Filled with straightforward advice and written in a down-to-earth style sure to appeal to both parents and teens, offers both innovative, easy-to-implement suggestions and proven techniques to build the foundation for lasting relationships.

Teen Curfew - Setting a good, fair teen curfew is something that many parents struggle to do. Here are some helpful tips for parents.