Being parents of teens can often be very tough job as the adolescent period is the time when teens tend to take any risk. Most of the time they hide the ideas and plans from their parents as they know parents may not allow them to implement certain ideas. This is the time when they prefer to stay out for a longer time and hang out with friends for a longer time.
The problem sets in when the teen is unable to differentiate between good and bad and finds almost everything as a thrilling experience. This can influence them to tread a wrong path. It is of utmost importance for the parents to interfere at this time. It is important for the parents to say no sometimes and stick to their rule, all for the benefit of the teen. Most of you as parents may be confused how to support our teens to make positive decisions in their life. Here are a few tips to help you out.
1. Do not say no rather keep your eyes open
The worst problem that you face with your teens is saying No. Most of the teens hide their plans from their parents as they know that parents may not agree for certain things. Its okay if your teen wants to hang around with his friends in the weekends but you need to keep a check on the kind of company he hangs around with. Talk to him freely and never let him feel that you are curious about the friend fact. When your kids are into adolescent period change certain rules. There are certain rules that you can implement when they were kids, but along with time you also need to change a bit in order to support your kids to take right decisions.
Teens are thrill seekers and they never open up to their parents regarding smoking, drinking or even sexual excitement. Now, being a parent its your duty to hold the line and implement certain rules that your teen will have to follow. Family dinner every night or meeting grand parents every weekend can help teens to get involve more into family rather then staying outside. Plan for teen’s picnic and ask your teens to suggest some drinks that they can have. You can check on their choice and also notice that whether they are interested in smoking and drinking when they are with the other teens. Do not apply anything forcefully. It is okay if once they want to call someone for sleep over; exceptions are always welcome but it should not be a rule.
2. Set clear rules & regulations
Implement certain rules for your teens and ask them to follow it. Fix a particular amount of pocket money for them and also you buy the necessary stuff for them. Ask them to help you in your groceries and also sit with your teens and make budget for monthly expense. If your teens want to go out with their friends or call them for lunch, ask them to give at least two days notice. This helps them to understand the time management and also makes them little discipline from becoming brat. Always talk about the big things.
Sit and chat with your teen. Talk about the after effect of alcohol and smoking. Bad effects of teen pregnancy. What are the rules for those habits and what happens if they try to break it! Talk to your teen about relationships. The more you talk with them, the more you help them to understand the facts clearly. Make them understand how much precious they are and how much good they deserve in their life. Show them the way to enjoy their life apart from hanging around with friends and spending time in the bars and night clubs.
3. Stick to your decision
If your teens are very arrogant and want you to act according to them, never back own. If he starts cribbing for a specific thing, just ask them that they might loose the access of that particular thing if they want to stick on their decision. Often, little strictness from your side helps the teens to take right decision. Be friendly with your teens. Plan with your kid for movies, camping and hiking. You can be friendly with your teens and always give them a free ambience in the home. Often, too much strictness can create major problems. Never impose anything on your teens unless that is too obvious and you understand the positive effect of that imposition. Try to become the best friend of your kid.
Offer open ambience in the home so that your teen can come back to you when caught in any problem. Most of the cases, the teen gets scared of the parents and hide problems which in turn become more worst. Make them understand what is good and what is bad. Give examples of certain good character. Try to explore their ideas on any incident. This will help you to understand your teens better. Arrogance can be controlled by implementing certain rules. Hence, ask your teens to meet your expectations first in order to get access of certain demands.
4. Spend time with your teen
Unless you spend some time with your teens, it is impossible for your to understand your teens. If you are not free with your teens, imposition of any discipline rule will never have any positive impact on them. Build a friendship relation with your teens. Talk with them daily and sit and have a chit-chat like their college friend. Share your own teen experience. Listen to them. Ask them to plan for you. Share your day to day experience with them. In return, ask their day to day experience. Go out for swimming, biking and also plan for cooking together. Teach your teens how to say no to smoking and drinking. Plan for family gathering often; this helps the teens to understand family values. Ask them to help the old age people and discuss about the financial matters and ask about their opinion. Talk to them freely about everything. Once you open up to them, they take lesser time to open up with you. Provide them that support so that they do not hesitate to discuss about any topic with you.
