Building the Foundation for a Healthy Teen & Parent Relationship

Spend time with your children and teens.
Spend time with your kids, engaged in activities that suit their ages and interests. Shared experiences build a bank account of affection and trust that forms the basis for future communication. Eat together as often as you can.  Meals are a great opportunity to talk about the day’s events and to grow closer with your children. Use the time for conversation, not confrontation. Read, watch TV or movies, and surf the internet together. Exercise or play sports as a family. Get involved in community service with your kids.

Help teens gain a sense of self-confidence.
Self-confidence is earned, not given. Give kids opportunities to learn skills and gain confidence. Offer praise for jobs well done, accentuate the positive, emphasize the things your children do right. If they fall short, suggest ways to improve; don’t criticize. Affection and respect will reinforce good behavior (and change bad) far more successfully than fear or embarrassment.

Encourage your teens to get involved in fun, safe, fulfilling activities.
Help your children to identify their strengths, talents, and interests and to find opportunities in which these assets can be developed. Encourage them to volunteer in the community, join a youth group, or participate in arts or sports. It will give them a sense of accomplishment, connect them to positive peers and adult leaders, and – not least of all – keep them busy.