|
|
|
COMMUNICATE
1. Make yourself available for talks and try to have them each day. At the same time, be respectful of your teen's need for silence.
2. Offer praise when deserved and remember to express love, even if your teen acts like it doesn't matter. It does.
3. Show that you're paying attention: use good eye contact and ask for clarification if needed.
4. Be poisitive and encouraging, and choose words and concepts that teens understand.
5. Rather than jump to conclusions, give your teen a chance to explain thoughts and actions.
6. Ban communication-stoppers such as guilt, commands, ultimatums, preaching, judging, or words like "never" or "always".
7. Be brief. Most teens tune out nagging, and retain shorter messages longer
8. Practice win-win communicaton. A healthy compromise with both parties feeling like winners help teens learn negotiation skills.
9. When the consequence of a conflict won't harm your teen, give him or her the opportunity to disagree without being accused of "talking back". Your teen will gain self-respect.
10. Don't feel you have to know everything. It's OK to say, "I don't know, but let's find out together."
Remember...In order to guide teens and share their world, you must keep the lines of communication open.
|
|
|
This page was last updated: Monday, April 10, 2006 at 8:29:19 AM
This page was originally posted: 4/10/06; 7:47:50 AM.
Copyright 2009 Miguel Juarez Middle School
|
|
|
