Being a Good Parent: 3 Essentials Of Parenting Teenagers

Here we begin with Parenting teenagers… Parenting teenagers is, to say the least, a tightrope-w

Being a Good Parent: 3 Essentials Of Parenting Teenagers

Here we begin with Parenting teenagers…

Parenting teenagers is, to say the least, a tightrope-walk. The process is pivotal in deciding the course of a young mind full of dreams and Teenage years throw a challenge a day at parents, causing concern, anxiety, doubt and a myriad of emotions. Teenagers, too, grapple with multiple issues such as peer pressure, academic expectations and difficulty in prioritizing.

Here are some ways in which you can you can address the adolescence-problems of children and help them sail through the turbulent phase.

Present a figure of dependability that leads to emotional assurance:

Early to middle teenage years, bring about natural physical changes and new emotions. Children start seeing the world anew, with an abundance of questions and brimming enthusiasm. When parents recognize a tilt in balance and a change of routine and choices, they are caught unaware. They can’t figure where to start.

The answer is: you can start anywhere. But, first, you need to be their friend. Someone they can confide in. If they find you dependable, you’re halfway there. This trust-factor will allow children to talk to you about things, which, otherwise would escape your notice. Leading to emotional assurance, you too, as a parent, can find a friend in your child. Moreover, this emotional space will help children keep at bay depression and anxiety.

The thin line between freedom and restraint: A question of balance:

How to be a good parent? This question has many answers. For adolescent kids, storming through the teenage-rebellion, freedom is the answer. They often boast about how the parents give them the freedom to go home late, stay at a friend’s place and many such liberties. There are also teenagers who aren’t allowed some of the above-mentioned liberties.

A perceived lack of freedom can create chaos in young minds and make way for undesirable effects of peer pressure to take control. To avoid this, it is essential for parents to recognize that certain freedoms are necessary and non-negotiable. An acknowledgement of the growing individuality, perceptions and choices of children will cement a healthy relationship with them. The balance between freedom and boundaries can be brought about by timely intervention. This way the teenagers can also understand the responsibility that comes with freedom.

Addressing the generation-gap problem: Accept the differences:

Parenting teenagers-zedua

Image Credit: Gulf News

A large part of the answers concerning the question of how to deal with teenagers encounters a roadblock in the familiar issue of generation-gap. The rapid influx of new technologies and the importance of social media in the life of a teenager are the most significant factors in keeping the generation gap alive. While we can’t do away with the necessity of social media, parents can still help teenagers realize the importance of human interaction.

Making it a point to have dinner with family. Read to children from your favourite book and maybe ask them about how facebook or twitter is influencing them. This can introduce them to many pleasures of a pre-social media generation to teenagers. At the same time, you can develop an understanding of the social media’s impact on your child. Through such interactions, teenagers and parents will learn the significance of the constant change and the importance of accepting differences.

Many teenage parenting articles try to provide answers to questions on how to be a good parent for teenagers. The scope of answers is vast indeed. Zedua hopes to answer the questions of parenting teenagers, children and schools by building a community for parents, a platform for schools and a medium for children.

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Also Read: 3 Ps that help you master the art of parenting

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