Parenting teenagers is a balancing act of guidance, patience, and independence. Share your strategies or discover advice from others to help you support your teen with confidence.
Share Your Tip (16)
Jose G.
Instead of just telling your teen what to do in an emergency, create a plan with them. Work together to make a list of emergency contacts, a plan for what to do if the power goes out, or a kit for car trouble. This empowers them with knowledge and shows you trust them to handle a crisis.
Francis
When you have errands to run, bring your teen with you and give them a task. This could be picking up the dry cleaning, finding a specific item at the grocery store, or even returning something to a store. This teaches them how to navigate the adult world and makes errands feel like a team effort instead of a chore.
Daniel P.
Teens want to feel like their opinions matter. Ask them for advice on a real problem you're having. This could be choosing a new phone, figuring out a technical issue, or getting a second opinion on a work problem (without getting into confidential details). This shows you value their perspective.
Susanne R.
If you want to talk to your teen about something important, set a timer for five minutes. Tell them, "I need five minutes of your time to talk about X. After that, we can both go back to what we were doing." This respects their time and gives them a clear expectation, which makes them more likely to listen.
Tina
Instead of a traditional chore chart where you assign tasks, create a "reverse" chart where your teen chooses a task they want to be responsible for each week. This gives them ownership over their contributions to the household and can make them more likely to follow through.
Allen J.
Set aside 10-15 minutes each day for your teen to just vent, without interruption or judgment. During this time, you aren't allowed to offer advice, suggest solutions, or get mad. Simply listen. This creates a safe space for them to process their feelings without fear of a lecture.
Instead of just telling your teen what to do in an emergency, create a plan with them. Work together to make a list of emergency contacts, a plan for what to do if the power goes out, or a kit for car trouble. This empowers them with knowledge and shows you trust them to handle a crisis.
When you have errands to run, bring your teen with you and give them a task. This could be picking up the dry cleaning, finding a specific item at the grocery store, or even returning something to a store. This teaches them how to navigate the adult world and makes errands feel like a team effort instead of a chore.
Teens want to feel like their opinions matter. Ask them for advice on a real problem you're having. This could be choosing a new phone, figuring out a technical issue, or getting a second opinion on a work problem (without getting into confidential details). This shows you value their perspective.
If you want to talk to your teen about something important, set a timer for five minutes. Tell them, "I need five minutes of your time to talk about X. After that, we can both go back to what we were doing." This respects their time and gives them a clear expectation, which makes them more likely to listen.
Instead of a traditional chore chart where you assign tasks, create a "reverse" chart where your teen chooses a task they want to be responsible for each week. This gives them ownership over their contributions to the household and can make them more likely to follow through.
Set aside 10-15 minutes each day for your teen to just vent, without interruption or judgment. During this time, you aren't allowed to offer advice, suggest solutions, or get mad. Simply listen. This creates a safe space for them to process their feelings without fear of a lecture.