Talking to your teen about common problems

Your teen is continually growing and running into roadblocks; it’s an entirely normal part of being a teen. It’s important though as a parent that you’re there for your teen as they encounter problems. It can be hard to find time to talk to them about every single issue, but we’ve come up with a few tips to watch for and how to keep the communication lines open. It’s essential that you be there for them as they run into difficulty and be a support system.

Mental Health

Changes in mental health can either come on slowly or appear in a snap at once. It’s important for you to watch for changes in your teen; these changes can include appearance, weight loss or gain, mood or behavior, and threats. These are just a few of the changes visually that can appear when it comes to mental health. Make sure to talk to your teen about common mental health problems. Explain that the person suffering from the illness can seek treatment while making progress with their mental health.

Sex

This is probably one of the top topics you’ll look forward to the least when chatting with your teen. It’s all about consent, teach your teen that right off the bat. When the time comes when they want to experiment, be sure to explain that protection is the safe way to go when it comes to STI’s and pregnancy. If you aren’t uncomfortable but still want your child to seek advice you can always reach out to your family doctor.

Drugs and Alcohol

This is a topic to start talking with your teen about early in their teens. It’s important that they understand the dangers of substance abuse. Continue to speak to them about this topic as they grow up. You can show them movies and stories that illustrate substance abuse to show them how drug habits and others can impact your life in a substantial way.

Bullying

Many kids, unfortunately, experience bullying while they grow up and express themselves. Often enough, the child on the receiving end of the bullying won’t speak up about it to their parents. We’ve come up with some signs to look for: withdrawing, drop in grades, and depression. It’s important to check in with your child and let them know that it’s okay to tell you if someone is mean to them, you can help them find a solution by reaching out to the school.

More ways to help your teen

  • Help raise your teen’s self-confidence by complimenting them on their skills and abilities
  • Give advice without lecturing
  • Laugh to make things less serious
  • If there’s trust built up give them more privileges as respect
  • If they break the rules, make sure there are consequences

It can be hard to be a parent when your teen is growing into a young adult, but it’s important that you show them the path and help them grow into the respectable young adult you want.