Parenting becomes tough when child reaches the
adolescence stage. Unnecessary sulking, lack of communication, questionable
friends and disrespect are common challenges that parents face while bringing
up a teenager. Often it is difficult for parents to comprehend how in a matter
of months, a loving and thoughtful child has turned into a moody and irritable
teenager. But you should never feel dejected on the turn of events. With the
right approach you can easily handle and overcome this teenage crisis.
Be child’s best
friend
A parent is a mother or father first. But you must
also see yourself as your child’s friend so that both of you can share a sense
of mutual trust, loyalty and respect. Treat your teenage son or daughter as
individuals with minds of their own. Talk to them about their thoughts, ideas
and feelings. Likewise, even share your own mental state with them (not the
distressing ones). This will help you win your child’s faith and confidence. Parent-child
friendship allows children to open up and confide in their parents about their
teenage problems. This is called parenting with love and logic.
Give them
responsibility
Making your teenage child responsible is an integral
part of their growth and development. You have to train and support your child
to be ready for more responsibility. This means you have to plan in
advance, when and in what areas you will allow your child to take his/her own
decisions. It is up to you on how quickly you hand over responsibility to your
teenager. Responsibility depends on many aspects, including your own comfort
level, your family and cultural traditions, and your child’s maturity. The
important thing to keep in mind is that you and your child, both should
feel comfortable about the shift of responsibility and the pace of change. Excessive or too soon might
leave both of you feeling overwhelmed. Less or too slow might result in your
child feeling annoyed or defiant.
Know the parents
of your kid’s friends
Whenever
possible, be it at the school gates or while dropping your
child off at each other’s house, try to get to know the parents of your child’s
friends also. With this you ensure that your child is in the right and positive
company. Speaking to other parents will help you find out whether both of you
share the same concerns and values. This is regarded as an effective parenting
skill.
Set rules and
regulations
Parenting teenagers involves a subtle balance of
giving them enough guidance to make sure they are making right choices, while
also giving them enough freedom to make mistakes. Home rules need to be established
that respect’s your teenager’s desire to be independent, while keeping in mind
that they behave responsibly. You need to clearly outline what negative penalties will be in store
for him or her when a rule is broken. Rules offer you an opportunity to instil
values, encourage healthy eating habits, enhance social skills and prepare them
for the real world.
Encourage child to
take up sports
Encouraging to take up sports is
the best advice to a teenager that a parent can give. Participation in sports
activities helps in developing traits and lifetime values in teenagers which
can create a positive impact in their lives. These activities help in the
emotional, physical, social, and mental development of children. Researches have pointed out that teens who
play sports do better at school. Exercise improves learning, memory, and
concentration, which can give your child an advantage in the classroom. Apart
from this, sports help in elevating self-esteem, relieving stress and
developing team spirit and leadership skills.
