Challenges Of Teenagers – 14 Ways To Avoid Teen Struggles
Experiencing teenage problems?
Want to know how to cope with the challenges of teenagers? Here are 14 ways to avoid teen struggles and drama at home.
Hey my friend,
Let’s chat about the challenges of teenagers.
As a mom of two teens, I know that parenting teens isn’t the easiest thing to do in life.
Teen struggles are common however you can do your best to cope with these challenges at home that results in a win-win for both parties involved.
Some of these challenges of teenagers are expected.
While it’s natural for your child to challenge your authority and try to claim more independence, you still do have a responsibility to teach them to resolve conflicts respectfully so you can maintain family harmony.
Try these tips for transforming teen struggles into more positive communications.
Steps to Take Yourself:
Challenges Of Teenagers – 14 Ways To Avoid Teen Struggles
TIP # 1 – Set priorities.
While some rules are essential, getting rid of unnecessary restrictions can help your teen to feel more motivated and trusted.
Give them opportunities to show that they can handle more responsibility and let them learn from their experiences.
Action expresses priorities.
In order to say yes to your priorities you have to be willing to say no to something else.
Most of us spend too much time on what is urgent and not enough time on what is important. Stephen R. Covey
Challenges Of Teenagers – 14 Ways To Avoid Teen Struggles
TIP # 2 – Manage your emotions.
You’ll appear more confident and make sounder decisions if you stay calm.
Take a few deep breaths and choose words that will help to pacify the situation.
Don’t let your emotions distract you from doing what needs to be done.
Control your emotions so your emotions do not control you.
Managing emotions is about living your truth rather than suffering a series of reactions. You are a powerful creator and more than your emotions.
Emotions are a good guiding system to let you know what is going on inside; but they are not the rules of your world.
Appreciate your emotional range which is part of the wonderful human experience, but keep your inner guidance system in place.
Follow your path. Choose your destination. Sheri Kaye Hoff
Challenges Of Teenagers – 14 Ways To Avoid Teen Struggles
TIP # 3 – Be positive.
When your teen seems to be defying you, remember their attractive qualities and the things that they do well.
Be sure to give them praise as well as constructive criticism.
Train your mind to see the good in every situation.
Never let a bad situation bring out the worst in you.
Be strong and choose to be positive.
Staying positive does not mean that things will turn out okay.
Rather it is knowing that YOU will be okay no matter how things turn out.
Remember a negative mind will NEVER give you a positive life or result.
No matter what you’re going through, there’s a light at the end of the tunnel and it may seem hard to get to it but you can do it and just keep working towards it and you’ll find the positive side of things. Demi Lovato
Challenges Of Teenagers – 14 Ways To Avoid Teen Struggles
TIP # 4 – Stay firm.
If your child discovers that you’ll give in under pressure, they’ll keep trying to get their own way.
Stick to your decisions even when backing down would be easier.
Remember the tallest oak in the forest was once just a little but that held its ground.
Be sure you put your feet in the right place, then stand firm. Abraham Lincoln
Be firm on principle but flexible on method. Zig Ziglar
Steps to Take with Your Teen:
Challenges Of Teenagers – 14 Ways To Avoid Teen Struggles
TIP # 5 – Express empathy.
You can validate your child’s feelings even when you disagree with what they’re saying.
Empathy is the ability to step into the shoes of another person, aiming to understand their feelings and perspectives and to use that understanding to guide our actions.
Remember everyone on this planet is fighting a battle you know nothing about so be kind.
Try to look at situations from your teen’s perspective and negotiate solutions that meet both your needs.
Learning to stand in somebody else’s shoes, to see through their eyes, that’s how peace begins. And it’s up to you to make that happen. Empathy is a quality of character that can change the world. Barack Obama
Challenges Of Teenagers – 14 Ways To Avoid Teen Struggles
TIP # 6 – Speak respectfully.
Steer clear of name calling and personal insults even when you’re upset.
Be tactful, direct, and open to discussing different opinions.
Show respect even to people who don’t deserve it, not as a reflection of their character but as a reflection of yours.
A person is a person no matter how small. Dr. Seuss
Challenges Of Teenagers – 14 Ways To Avoid Teen Struggles
TIP # 7 – Ask helpful questions.
There’s a big difference between asking your teen why they’re so lazy and asking them why they didn’t clean their room as promised.
Focus on fixing the issue rather than casting blame.
Challenges Of Teenagers – 14 Ways To Avoid Teen Struggles
TIP # 8 – Explain your reasons.
Let your teen know why you expect certain behavior from them.
They may think you’re being unfair when you’re actually concerned about their safety.
Challenges Of Teenagers – 14 Ways To Avoid Teen Struggles
TIP # 9 – Request their help.
As much as possible, encourage your teen to use their own values to create their own rules.
Values are the deeply held beliefs that drive and direct your behavior.
They’ll be less likely to complain and more likely to comply.
It’s not hard to make decisions when you know what your values are. Roy Disney
Peace of mind comes when your life is in harmony with true principles and values and in no other way. Stephen Covey.
Challenges Of Teenagers – 14 Ways To Avoid Teen Struggles
TIP # 10 – Offer choices.
Give your teen options when appropriate so they can practice handling greater independence.
FYI – Having only one option is not an option.
Also just as a man with options is a man with power, the same is also true: a teen with no options is a teen with no power.
Flexibility comes from having multiple choices; wisdom comes from having multiple perspectives. Robert Dilts
If your teen needs to do more household chores, maybe they can decide whether to do those tasks on weekends or after school.
Let them have some say in the matter.
Challenges Of Teenagers – 14 Ways To Avoid Teen Struggles
TIP # 11 – Share power.
You can also consider inviting your teen to take on increased leadership.
Use family meetings as a time to collaborate on household decisions.
Be willing to negotiate some limits such as adopting a later curfew on weekends in exchange for making check-in calls to let you know they’re safe.
Challenges Of Teenagers – 14 Ways To Avoid Teen Struggles
TIP # 12 – Do things together.
Building a solid foundation for your relationship can also reduce power struggles.
Just for the record, spending time with children is more important than spending money on children.
Kids don’t need things.
They need parents who spend TIME with them.
Put time aside to do things as a family and one-on-one.
Cook dinner together or arrange a weekend outing.
Hang out with your teen.
In the end kids won’t remember that fancy toy or game you bought for them, they will remember the time you spent with them. Kevin Heath
If you want your children to turn out well, spend twice as much time with them, and half as much money. Abigail Van Buren
To a child, love is spelled T-I-M-E. Zig Ziglar
One more thing – every time you hear this advice said for kids assume the same advice applies to teens (who are just an older version for the former but still your child nonetheless!)
Challenges Of Teenagers – 14 Ways To Avoid Teen Struggles
TIP # 14 – Plan ahead.
Teens who are hopeful about their future tend to be less defiant.
Ask your teen what their goals are or guide them toward resources that will help them explore their options.
They should have goals that excite them about their future.
My definition of happiness is having something to do what you love to do, someone to love and something to look forward to. Mary Kay Ash
Challenges Of Teenagers – 14 Ways To Avoid Teen Struggles
TIP # 15 – Seek support.
If you want more help, talk with other parents or a professional counselor.
Your relationship with your teen may benefit from additional insights and strategies.
Remember you are either supporting the vision or supporting division.
Anything is possible when you have the right people there to support you. Misty Copeland
Social support is everything. Jordan Knight
All in all, seeking more control over their lives is a sign that your child is growing up, but you can keep power struggles with your teen from turning into arguments and fights.
Instead aim to work together to prepare them to take on more responsibility and encourage them to learn from their own experiences.
Live with no excuses.
Love with no regret.
Much love,
Frances Vidakovic xx
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I’m Frances Vidakovic – a mindset & action coach for quietly ambitious women who want to stop overthinking and finally take aligned action. I help women achieve their goals and follow through on what matters, without sacrificing their sanity or soul.