Kay Jankowski, offers tips for parents to foster good parent-teen relationships.
Parenting teenagers
- Teenagers can be challenging for caregivers, pushing boundaries and engaging in risky behaviors.
- Boundary testing is a normal part of adolescent development, helping teens gain independence.
- Teens need their caregivers despite their actions or words suggesting otherwise.
Tips for parents and caregivers
- Caregivers and parents should focus on preserving and deepening their relationship with their teens.
- Building positive interactions is crucial for maintaining a strong connection.
- Being supportive is often the best response to maintain a good relationship.
- Active listening and understanding the teen's perspective is important.
- Include teens in generating solutions rather than solving problems for them.
- Caregivers should manage their own emotions to respond calmly and effectively.
Resources
Websites
- Teen Mental Health
- 10 Parenting Tips for Preteens and Tweens (Child Mind Institute)
- 10 Tips to Help Dads and Daughters Stay Close (Child Mind Institute)
- Positive Parenting Newsfeed
- Tips for Communicating With Your Teen (Child Mind Institute)
Additional video resources
We have included some additional video resources related to parenting teenagers.
