As your child ages, communication can get more and more difficult. Once your child is a teenager, there can be a significant divide between how you used to talk to them and how it is now. While this can be normal, there are a few methods to maintain communicating with your teenager openly. Once you implement these, you may see a positive shift in communication with your teenager.
Secrets For Communicating With Your Teenager
This can be an overwhelming time for parents to get used to. Suddenly puberty has your child going through emotional changes along with physical differences. At Carithers Pediatric Group, we know that it can be hard to keep up as your child changes. That is why we are here to help by sharing six secrets to communicating with your teenager openly.
Try Not To Take Things Personally
Teenagers can say a lot of things that they do not mean. As their parents, it is essential not to take things personally and seek understanding instead. In moments of heightened emotions or arguments, teenagers tend to lash out at their parents. This may be a connection to something else in their lives or a particular instance on that day. However, communicating with them about how something made you feel is still important.
Empowering Parents discusses the importance of the fact that your teen’s actions that you do not like may result from a lack of skillset in dealing with it correctly. In that case, it is essential to teach them differently instead of taking their current actions personally.
Listen & Avoid Loaded Questions
Teenagers can often say a lot without using many words. If you listen to how they choose to express themselves and share, you may learn a lot more than you expected. Teenagers need to know they have your full attention as they speak to you about important matters to them. If they think you are half-listening or thoroughly distracted, they can feel like their thoughts are not being heard or cared about.
According to the Child Mind Institute, sitting back and listening to your teen can be more effective than asking questions. They are more likely to open up and share when they do not feel pressured to do so. When they feel like you are not prying and simply listening to their feelings, they may even share otherwise things they would not have.
Validate How They Are Feeling
We were all young once. What your child is going through may not feel like a big deal to you, but it is the entire world to them. It is essential to validate their feelings, no matter how much you do not understand them. If you make them feel like their emotions are not valid, they may begin to doubt talking to you about them. Then, feelings of anger and sadness can become bottled up and instilled in them rather than getting to talk it out with their parent.
Give Them Praise
Make sure your teen knows that you notice the positives that they do. They then do not feel like any time you talk to them is only to tell them something they are doing wrong. Giving your child compliments and praise after small or large actions can make a difference to them. Notice the things they do and make them feel good about themselves.
Pay Attention & Spend Time With Them
Along with all of these communication methods with your teenager, spending time with them can mean just as much. If your child feels like you are someone they can depend on, they will also feel like opening up to you is okay. By paying attention to them and finding time every day to show that they have your time, they know you are not going anywhere. They can establish trust with you in a different way than others in their environment.
Communicating with your teenager does not have to be a difficult task. It is all about discovering the ways to reach them and let them feel comfortable opening up to you. If you find this a constant challenge, medical professionals are an excellent resource for advice and information. At Carithers Pediatric Group, we seek to help you establish those strong relationships with your teen. Find out more through our website or give us a call to find out even more information.