Teenage years are the time that your child undergoes a whole lot of physical & psychological changes. It is a phase of transition as they are neither a child nor an adult, yet.  As such, this time leaves children confused. This might make them rebellious, introverted or cut off from you. This might frustrate you as a parent sometime.

The reason that communication is important is that as teens grow older they spend more time away from the family & start taking decisions on their own. Your teen needs to understand that these years will shape his adulthood & the rules will change along with his responsibilities. 

however, your child needs you the most during this stage of his life more than any other. Patience & the right approach will see you through. 

While there is no one “best” way to handle a teen; below are a few pointers that can help you communicate effectively with your teenage child: 

• Respect your teen’s opinions & feelings.  
• Even though they might seem shut in & remote to you, they would still want to speak with you! 
• Try spending time alone with your teenager. You can try going out on a holiday if the opportunity does not exist at home. 
• Do not put down or try to show your teenager down! You need to respect their opinion even though you might not like it. Your approval is necessary to them. 
• Listen to your child. Give him all your attention so that the conversation is neither forced nor interrupted. Your child is shy; he will choose his own time to open up to you. 
• Appreciate your child. If your kid feels that he is loved & appreciated, he is more likely to talk to you about his problems. 
• Relate to them; tell them about your teenage years & your experiences. 
•  Think before you lash out. Will force & arguing really serve your purpose? Is this how you would like to proceed with a conversation? Will you reach your goal by being aggressive? 
• Do not draw comparisons of your child with other children in a bad light.  
• Set examples for your child by doing what you say. Your child is more likely to follow you in such a case. 
• Do not judge your teens. Most times teenagers stay away from adults because they feel they will be judged.

While teenage years are a tough time for both children & adults, mutual co-operation goes a long way in grooming responsible adults.