Home is a place where teenagers learn how to build healthy relationships.
• Teenagers learn to relate through observing adult relationships
• If parenting together, invest in your relationship (take our marriage course!)
• If parenting on your own, build the best relationship you can with the other parent, when possible
• Nurture other adult friendships
• Mealtimes together – teenagers learn to talk, listen, debate issues, and respect others’ views
• Regular family time – having fun together ias a family helps build relationships between parents and children and between siblings (consider having a weekly “family night”)
Question: How can you intentionally model healthy relationships with others in your life, for your teenager to learn from?
We look at the role of Paying Attention to Their World, Listening for Feelings & Avoiding Interruptions in effective communications.4. Show an interest in the world of your teenageres)
ask questions about their interests and listen to their answers
treat them as unique individuals with their own points of view and personal tastes
5. Listen for feelings
allow them to express negative emotions
don’t rush in with solutions right away
6. Try to avoid interrupting
the average person listens for only seventeen seconds
resist the desire to be defensive or to butt in and correct
What affirming words can you share with your teenager this week? What one-to-one time can you plan?
