Guidance For Parents With Teen Problems
Adolescence is the time wherein, physical and emotional changes happen rapidly. These changes cause a lot of stress for your kid as well as yourself. Problems often root from stress during this tough time.
This is a time of confusion for your teenager. And this is also a period of distress between parent and teen. You might want to try to understand your teen first. This is a chance to help your child grow into an independent and responsible person.
Common Problems of Teenagers
Even if it’s getting harder everyday for you to recall your own adolescence, you actually were a teen once in your life. And struggling with acne, bad hair days and body image may have been some of your own problems as well. This is no different from what your adolescent is going through. Expect some mood swings to go along with these types of concerns.
Misconceptions about these physical changes might lead your teen to be embarrassed about the changes going on with their bodies. This could make them feel more self-conscious and concerned with their appearance. Teenagers look to establish their personal identities and may begin to realize that they differ from their peers. This realization may result in episodes of distress.
And if all of this wasn’t enough to think about, dealing with drugs and alcohol is another common teenage problem. Teens want to experience things that are new to them. One of the main goals of the teen years is to gain independence. They might associate themselves with these types of addictive substances to rebel against parental control, feel more grown up or even escape from the stress.
Parenting Guidance for Teen Years
A good place to start is to educate yourself and work to better understand your teen. Parents who know more about the struggles of being a teenager in today’s fast paced environment will cope better. And the more you understand them, the better you can prepare. You should be prepared also to face conflicts as teenagers struggle to find their identity.
An open line of communication is best for you and your child. It might work for you to prevent misconceptions and inform them that these changes are normal. Talking to your child early enough gives you a better chance to have open communication later when you will need it the most.
It’s also a good idea to pick your battles wisely, especially when it comes to teenage problems. Your objections are best left to things like smoking, drinking, drugs and changing their appearance permanently. If teens just want to change their hair color, wear outrageous clothing or use bright nail polish, you might think twice before voicing an objection. Discussing these with your kid and not just making demands will in many cases work much better. Help them to understand how others might view them but listen to their own point of view as well.
Start with Trust
Trust is a very important element in a parent-child relationship. When trust is broken, it’s hard to rebuilt it. Let your teen know that you trust him to do the right thing but, if trust is destroyed he will have to deal with the consequences. Eventually, teens grow into mature, independent and responsible individuals. But it’s true that in the mean time, problems along the way aren’t easy to deal with.
Source by Marsha Beslic
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
