Now’s the time to help teens navigate questions of value and support them in understanding the importance of organization.
Parents reach out and ask, “How can we experience fewer nights of overwhelm and freak out over homework?!” And “How much should I be helping them?!”
In any decision-making opportunity, your teen has much to consider. They are simultaneously considering their own ideas, beliefs about what peers expect from them, thoughts about family norms, and images from media.
It’s critical for teen and young adult patients to grow in their capacity to advocate for themselves and work towards handling their healthcare independently.
It’s crucial for members of all marginalized communities, like the queer community, to see themselves represented in a strong and positive light.
The truth is, dreams come from one’s internal compass, not from external sources, pressures, or societal norms and expectations. Furthermore, teenagers need space to explore, reflect, experience, and process and come to their own truths, their own path.
When (not if) your teen presents an undesirable behavior or seems "shut down", you have an opportunity to ASK about it, rather than telling them about (aka lecturing them).
Are we expecting our day to go exactly as we planned it in our daydream? Are we holding so tight that we are missing out on opportunities to build relationship with our loved ones?
As young people navigate this impressionable time, it’s important that parents provide both support and boundaries. This is not to suggest micro-management, rather, it’s an invitation to help your teen understand where their own limits are.
6 tips for talking to teenagers about building a healthy relationship to their technology and social media.