Best tips for parenting teenagers?

Answer 1

Set reasonable rules and limits. Expect drama and just be there to listen. Sometimes that's all they want, just for you to give them your undivided attention. Know who their friends are. Know who their friends' parents are. And don't nag or fight with them over every little thing. Choose carefully which battles are worth fighting and be firm and calm. They probably need more love shown to them during their teenage years than they do any other time.

Answer 2

Communication is the key to any relationship, and if you can have that with your teenager, you will have a much easier and happier transition from teen to adulthood. I have 4 sons, the youngest is 20 years old and it really worked for me.

Answer 3

love thr child first and do what you feel is right and keep in mind that you can always ask for help from your parents or dads parents some of us older folks know some ideas or tricks that help

Answer 4

My parents told us that we could do pretty much what we wanted to do as long as we did not do anything illegal and get in trouble. If we got in trouble and lost their trust we would not be able to go out with our friends until we earned their trust back. I never once got in trouble for underage drinking or using drugs because I wanted to keep my parent's trust.

Answer 5

My answer--

Patience.

A sense of humor. Sometimes we can be waaaaay too serious!

More humor.

More humor.

Loosen the strings, they have to learn...usually from their mistakes.

Take a ride in their shoes if something is really important to them. Would you let you go? Or do? Or be?

Or have it?

Consistency.

Be reasonable. And not because everyone else's parents are okay with it.

And believe it or not,

Be fair.

If you get upset, teach them to chill for awhile. You, do the same. Then you both come back to negotiations with a big (genuine) smile, and try again. Repeat, until you have a consensus.

Hug. As often as it occurs to you. If they have an image to maintain, not in front of everybody.

Kiss them. He/She is still the baby you adored.

They are NOT in the enemy camp. It's a facade.

If you truly, truly raised them with the right values, trust your work.

If they fail to do the right thing, it is not a crime to punish them. How will they learn to live within boundaries?

House rules prevail. (Makeup, dating, etc.)

What someone else permits may not reflect what you are trying to instill in your child.

Laugh together. A lot. You can be friends, without being friends. (You have to maintain your position as an authority figure.)

Prepare yourself: There will be times when your child is not going to like you. But they will still love you.

Have hot chocolate days. If it's not cold, turn up the A/C for an hour or two, bundle up and watch cartoons. They will always be cool.

Make sure your child has a heart for the less fortunate. Even if you ARE the less fortunate.

Don't shield them from the ugly things of life...discuss them, so that your teen can develop social consciousness, and care about people and circumstances that are unrelated to their lives.

Make rites of passage a big deal.

Let your no be no. Most of the time.

Ditto for yes.

There will always be extenuating circumstances that call for a relaxing of standard policy.

Demonstrate compassion, so your teen will learn compassion.

You can't choose your child's friends, but you can help remind them, that no matter how cool someone is, NO is not just for drugs, alcohol and cigarettes.

Privacy does not necessarily apply to parents. Work this one out early. You are going to need it.

Appearance matters, but don't judge a book by its cover.

Always support your child. Unless it's illegal or immoral, cruel or unkind or thoughtless. Unfortunately. Tell him/her ahead of time. They have to learn.

If they make a mistake, forgive them.

Even if they do it on purpose, they are young, and learning. Forgive them. And let them learn what repercussions are.

If you issue a punishment, stick with it.

No matter what they say, or how they feel, they will survive if you take it all away.

If they are bored, hand them a book. Ask for a report. On paper. Neat and legible.

House rules vary, but, no one under 17 really NEEDS a date.

House rules still vary, but teen girls' skin really does look much better without makeup. Keep it light and simple until junior prom.

Skin problems really do mean the end of the world to them. Take them to a dermatologist, if the problem can't be solved or is worsened by home treatments.

No, it is not baby fat. Weight problems now mean health problems later. Exercise together.

Presweetened cereal does not go out of style once a child becomes a teen, or a teen becomes an adult.

Make sure your child hears "I love you" throughout the day.

Even if their concerns are insignificant to you, they are important to them.

Wisdom is better taught than caught. --Charles Swindoll

No matter what your beliefs, the Ten Commandments (Bible, KJV) are not really the Ten Suggestions. Teach your child to practice them.

Discuss sex now. Don't teach them preventive measures. That's all over the place. Teach them to wait.

Patience is a Virtue. Help them Learn it.

Because much in life is worth waiting for.

Teach them if they can't afford it, they can't have it.

Even if you can afford it, doesn't mean they should have it.

If you are too busy for your children, reduce your hours, make adjustments, or (if 2 parents are in the home) quit.

Cat's in the Cradle was not just a lullaby. : )

If your child wants to talk, turn it off, put it down, do what you have to do to to give him/her all the time they need to get whatever it is off their chest. All the time they need. Don't rush them.

Cookies and milk still make them feel better.

So does ice cream.

Everything in moderation...

Most of the time.

If they have a problem, don't judge--sympathize.

Even if he is taller than you are, his problems are still humungous.

Perspective is a foreign word to them.

Reasonable is another foreign word to them.

Even if you have household help, and no matter what you think of your lawn, flowers, or fragile possessions, give your child chores.

Do not pay for good grades. That should be a reward in itself.

Be there when they get up.

Be there when they go to bed.

Don't break your promises. They are like elephants, and remember those incidents forever.

No matter what you think EVERYTHING is important to them.

Don't diminish, disparage, or disregard their concerns.

Pour on the love extra thick during tough times. When it's enough they will tell you. You will probably be embarrassed.
Don't sweat it.

Don't sweat the small stuff.

Don't panic. Take a breath, and should the big stuff present itself, keep your perspective, and (if it is an option) have a discussion with your child.

For the big stuff, if it affects your child's life, listen to your child first. Then make a decision. Together.

No one who ever panicked, made a clear-headed, rational decision.

Phillipians 4:8 (Bible, KJV) says, Whatsoever is true, whatsoever is honest, whatsoever is just, whatsoever is pure, whatsoever is lovely, if there be any virtue, if there be any praise, think on these things. This is good advice, whatever your beliefs.

The idea being what you think, you will speak, do, and ultimately be.

If you treat your teen like a child, when will they have a chance to grow up?

Try to get this through to them when they aren't upset or excited about anything.

Be Aware: they are probably not going to tell you everything. You have to watch for signs.

Let them know NOW, that even if there is a problem too big to do anything about, you want a chance to try to help. You deserve that chance.

Even if they don't accept your offer, remind them that the offer stands. Forever.

Yes, sometimes parents do wait until it's too late to talk to their child.

Or play with their child.

Or spend time with their child.

Don't let it be you.

There are no second chances after too late.

Remind them often that you are on their side. Realize now that you may have to back that up some day. Be prepared to do so.

Remind them that they can trust you. Not because you are their friend, but because you have have their best interests at heart.

If you punish/discipline your child by sending him/her to a room loaded with stuff, you aren't REALLY punishing your child.

They are sensitive. Be careful. A spark can set them off.

Yes, they are eating you out of house and home, but they can't help it.

If you have a problem, ask your teen. They have a lot of insight, see more than we give them credit for, and often know more than we think.

Their opinions can prove valuable, occasionally.

Feed them. You are growing an adult.

Teach them. So they at least hear about your mistakes, even if they have to learn from their own.

Talk to them. So they are learning to communicate fairly.

There are occasional exceptions to almost every rule. Occasional.

I had more, but I'm falling asleep. Sorry.
Hope this helps!

Answer 6

Be patient, understanding, open minded, but most importantly remember what it was like to be a teen. It has worked for me.

Answer 7

i really need an answer to this question to nothing seems to work with my 16 y/o son i have tryed everything from grounding to taking all his stuff to spanking him and nothing is stoping him from doing what he wants when he wants

if you get help e mail me with it please

Answer 8

Be consistent with rules and punishment.

Answer 9

Show them an example.
If you are a wife, then love and listen to your husband.
If you are a husband, then love and listen to Jesus Christ.

Answer 10

What ever you want them to do ,ask them to do the other