The article is developed in partnership with BetterHelp.
It’s a well-known idea that being the parent of a teenager can present several different challenges. After all, the teenage years are full of physical, mental, and social changes that put pressure on the teen while often confusing and frustrating parents.
Teenagers start to experience the effects of puberty, including mood swings caused by hormonal changes and new developments in their brains and bodies. While they may have previously sworn off dating, suddenly they’ve taken a romantic interest in other people at school and want more independence and freedom to do their own thing.
All of these changes are natural, and even though parents were once teenagers themselves, it can be difficult for them to connect with their children as they’re navigating this new stage of life. However, that desire to be close to one’s teen doesn’t go away, and parents often search for ways to keep the connection alive. Keep reading to learn more about building and maintaining a close bond with your teenager, including activities you can do with them, communication strategies to try, and ways to empathize with and encourage them.
Strategies For Staying Connected With Your Teen
Although you may feel like you don’t even know your own child anymore, rest assured that they are simply growing and developing into the person they’re meant to be. Their friends may appear to be the focus of their lives during this time, but you can still hold a valuable and influential role by trying the following strategies to stay connected:
- Spend quality time with them: Teens love to have fun, but they all have unique interests. Your job as their parent is to find what makes them excited or happy and engage in those activities or hobbies with them. Maybe they enjoy trying new restaurants, playing soccer, or seeing movies. It’s crucial to set aside time in your day to simply enjoy one another’s company and have meaningful conversations.
- Maintain a teen-friendly space: During the teenage years, friendships often become more important than ever. To show your support for these friendships, it can be helpful to make your home an inviting space whenever your child would like to have people over. Of course, it’s still essential to maintain healthy boundaries, such as how often friends can come over and what activities are allowed at the house. Showing your teen that you understand their need for friendship can build trust and positivity.
- Prioritize communication: While it may be difficult to understand your teenager’s decisions and reasoning, it’s critical to keep the lines of communication open and honest. Practice listening more than you speak and take the time to try to understand where your teen is coming from. Avoid pushing them to be open with you; rather, let them know that you’re always there for them and that they can trust you with anything. Show love and encouragement and give them the privacy they need while maintaining boundaries.
- Show up for them: Is your teen involved in school sports? The band or choir? Chess club? If so, showing up to competitions, performances, and games matters, even if your teen won’t admit it. When your teen looks up into the stands or audience and sees that you made the time to be there for them, they’re more likely to feel as if you genuinely care for them and support their interests.
You can find more information about navigating teen mental health, parenting, and other concerns by visiting https://www.betterhelp.com/advice/teenagers/.
This Stage Will Pass
Your child won’t be a teenager forever, so it’s important to enjoy this stage of their lives while it lasts. While there may be road bumps along the way, it can also be a rewarding experience that promotes self-awareness and personal growth. The more positive your interactions with your teenager are, the stronger your relationship can become. Laying a foundation of trust, understanding, and acceptance can set your parent-child connection up for a lifetime of success, allowing each of you to enjoy the bond you share through life’s different stages.