https://omtimes.com/2019/03/communicate-teenager/
It’s so important that parents have open lines of communication with their teenagers. When teens feel like they can talk to their parents, they can work through a lot of problems and avoid even more. But it’s not always easy to have good communication with teenagers. Learning To Communicate With Your Teenager Being a surly teenager is par for the course, and it’s tough on everyone. Teens are going through a developmental stage in which they need to assert their autonomy and identity so their behavior can be pretty off-putting to their parents and other adults. What parents need to understand is that just because their teen might be pushing them away with obnoxious behavior and eye-rolling, it doesn’t mean that the young person has no need for parental support. In fact, because this is such a loaded time, teenagers need more support and guidance than ever. They’re exploring their identity, sexuality, and aspirations. They need someone wiser and more experienced to talk to, but they’ll run the other way if they’re feeling judged or coerced. They want an accepting listener who’ll support them in their goals and guide them in their life choices; not judge, jury, and executioner. Teens need to feel connected to their parents if they’re going to open up to them, but it’s harder these days for teens to connect. Social media makes it easier to be isolated and disconnected from parents and peers, as teens can opt to plug into their technology and stay plugged in, rather than build real-life relationships. It’s up to the parents to foster these invaluable connections. They can do this by involving teens in regular parent-child or family activities. It can be family dinners; attending religious services together; weekly bike-riding, hikes in the woods or basketball games; doing…