Parents & Guardians: Do You Want More Connection with your Preteen/Teen?

Parents and Guardians: Do you want more connection with your preteen and teen?

Parent/Guardian and Preteen and Teen Connection

As a parent/guardian, are you looking to build more connection to your preteen, teen and young adult?

There are many ways to feel more aligned and in-sync with your youth.

Some things to start by doing, CONSISTENTLY, are:

• REALLY listen to what they have to say, be engaged in whatever they are sharing. Hear them out. They also have a voice and a mind of their own, even if it is different than your own thoughts and beliefs.

  
  

• Show interest in their interest. This can look like playing video games together, board games, learning a new dance, creating art together, etc...take time to show that you care what they are into.

  
  

• Speak kindly to them. Do not down-talk them and esp no name-calling. Redirect any negative into a positive. For example: "That would be so helpful for you to clean up after yourself, how responsible of you!" And always tell them, each and every day, how valuable and worthy they are (this goes a long way).

  
  

• Validate, validate, validate. Parents/guardians may seem to think their youth shouldn't feel a certain way but in all reality, they do and they have a right to feel those feelings/emotions that they are experiencing. By saying: "I see you are frustrated and mad, please let me know if there is anything I can do to support you" is showing you care and also validating what they are going through.

  
  

• Always, always, always make time for them. Yes, life can be busy and overwhelming but making time for your youth is showing them that they matter and that you care. Even if it is for 10 mins a day. You can say to your youth: "My time is very busy today, how about we meet at 5pm and we hang out for a bit and play a game together." This makes them feel seen and wanted.

If you're looking to connect, build a healthy and close relationship with your youth and need some guidance and support, please feel free to schedule a free call with me as we may be a good fit to work together in accomplishing just this.

I look forward to connecting with you!

In Gratitude, Dianne Furphy, MS

Believe in yourself and you can Kreate What U Want.