Earlier this week, I released an article on the importance of allowing your teen to grow up, supporting your teen’s independence and emerging adult self, and acknowledging how this process may bring up your own anxiety, loss, or difficult experiences as a teen. Now, I present you with five specific tips for both keeping your teen safe and promoting your teen’s independence. My hope for you is that this article will highlight helpful shifts you can implement in your parenting that will prioritize your teen’s safety while also giving them opportunities to build their trustworthiness and a healthy level of independence that will help your teen prepare for adulthood. Remember to seek connection with your teen in each and every conversation you have with your teen — yes, even limit-setting conversations.
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How Can I Talk to My Teen? Let Them Grow Up (And Be Excited For Their Emerging Adult Selves)
How can you encourage your teen’s growing independence as they near adulthood without being a nervous wreck about all of the safety issues in the world? I propose a balance of setting boundaries and controls where necessary that gradually decrease in intensity as the teen gets older, while also helping your teen develop and strengthen their problem-solving and discernment skills needed for independence, college, and adulthood.
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How can I talk to my teen? Be Imperfect.
Being imperfect is part of being human. What I am encouraging, however, is that parents embrace their imperfection, become aware of it, and own it, especially in front of their teenagers. Perfectionism keeps parents fixated on and stuck in their mistakes and often cripples the ability to problem-solve and make necessary changes. Read about how to promote problem-solving abilities, resiliency, and self-acceptance in your teenager.
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How Can I Talk to My Teen? Be Curious, Don’t Assume.
The teenage years are a wild ride for teens and parents alike. This is a time for teens to explore their identities, connect with peers in more meaningful ways, and identify what brings them passion and purpose in the world. Parents, you can have a valuable role in supporting this process. How? By creating space to connect with your teen and by asking them lots of open-ended questions about their interests and experiences. In this article, we will discuss one way to improve your communication and connection with your teenager.
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