Being a parent of a teen should come with an instruction guide. You probably thought that the hard part was over once your child grew out of their diapers and they were able to take care of themselves a little more. But now that they are getting into their tween and teen years, you’re figuring out that the parenting job is just beginning. Fortunately, you can find tips to surviving during this tumultuous time in their lives so you can come through the experience with a better understanding of your growing adolescent.
Educate Yourself
Let’s face it – it’s different being a tween or teenager today that it was when you were growing up. While some of the basic problems you went through still exist today, some of those problems are more widespread than they were a couple decades ago. For instance, the internet makes it much easier to bully a teenager today. Someone can set up an anonymous account and post things online for all of their classmates to see. This is called cyberbullying and it affects many teenagers every year. By knowing a little more about what your adolescent is going through, you can learn of ways to deal with it productively so you can be there for them.
Respect Their Privacy
One of the most difficult things you might have to do as a parent is respecting your teen’s privacy. You can use the excuse that everything they do is your business, but that’s not going to help them grow into a responsible young adult. As tempting as it might be at times, you should allow them to have their own space, including private phone calls, texts and emails. Their room should also remain private. This will help you build trust with your developing teen.
Offer Rewards
Teens and adolescents like to know that their efforts are being noticed. If they consistently abide by their curfew on weekends, consider extending that curfew an extra 30 or 60 minutes to show them that you appreciate their efforts at being trustworthy. If they are doing well in school, reward them by letting them stay home while the family goes an on outing every once in a while. Let them know what their expectations are and if they consistently meet those expectations, show them your appreciation by giving them something that they want.
The main thing to remember is that the tween and teen years only last for a little while. Eventually, they will grow out of this difficult phase. But the relationship you build with them during this difficult time will often dictate your relationship as they grow into adulthood.
