Times have changed. The way how grandpa and grandma raised you may no longer be appropriate today. The Internet has forever changed everyone’s lives, including you and your kids. And this article aims to help you moms and dads to connect to the teens of today:
DON’T BE OVERLY STRICT. Parents, relax! Don’t you find it heartbreaking when your kid’s friends identify him/her as “Ah, ikaw yung may OA sa pagiging strict na parents!” Set a humanly reasonable curfew. Don’t insist your kid to be home by four when s/he gets out from school at three-thirty plus travel time. There is a reason why we placed this tip at number one.
GIVE THEM A CELLPHONE. Not necessarily an iPhone 4S complete with retina display and high-speed data connection. Giving them a cellphone is the easiest way to your kids’ heart. It means you trust them. When they know they’re trusted, they become careful with their decisions and actions. They become wary of what you are to say if they do something bad. Hence, they don’t do it. The Power of Cellphones in Psychology!
EARN THEIR TRUST and BE YOUR KIDS’ BESTFRIEND. You’d be very happy if your kids regard you as their bestfriend. Don’t play around with their Facebook accounts or cellphones when they’re not looking. Or don’t get mad if your kids don’t want to follow you on Twitter. Respect their privacy. Never assume as well. Learn to ask questions.
- “Are okay, love?”
- “That isn’t a happy face, dear. Would you like to share anything with mom?”
- “Anything that Dad can help you with?"
If s/he says “no” or “I don’t want to talk about it” respect their decision and never torture them to speak. Don’t let your kids see you as an enemy. They will start to keep secrets from you.
LET YOUR CHILD BUILD HIS/HER OWN IDENTITY. You might notice that your kid spends more time with his/her friends than with any of the family members at home. Don’t freak out, it’s normal. Let them experiment with their looks and styles, as long as it is safe. Compliment your kids’ taste in music, even when it’s all about noise and anger and more noise. They like to gain acceptance from their group of friends. Extending family’s acceptance means a lot to them. It gives them the confidence to go out without fearing judgments from other people, because they are sure that their family respects who and what they are.
ALLOW THEM TO DECIDE FOR THEMSELVES. Especially when buying school supplies for June, do not force your kids to get those notebooks with a studio picture of Rico Yan or Jolina Magdangal on the cover. (Also, do not insist on getting them the high-tech three-layer pencil case. Your son will disown you for sure!) Let them choose what they want. Present them with helpful opinions, things that make sense.
Good teen parenting is all about helping your child grow into a confident adult. Now that we’ve shared you some effective tips on how to raise a happy teenager, it’s never too late to change your “style.” Go talk to your kids and share a funny story. Say goodnight to them. And, more importantly, never forget to say “I love you.”