How To Best Keep Teenagers On Track So They Live A Good And Productive Life
It is often said that the
teenage years are the most rebellious years of a child’s life. This is because
they are dealing with a lot of things at this age like puberty, peer pressure, dating, and just youthful exuberance in
general. If we are honest, social media
also plays a huge role in fueling this behavior. Children now have a lot of
uncontrolled access to a lot of things on the Internet - good and bad.
In this article, we will be
discussing some of the best strategies that parents or caregivers can
implement to help keep their children positive and focused on the right life
path. These tips are sure to give you a good advantage to raising a disciplined
individual.
Most parents become fearful or
concerned when their children are approaching this age, mostly because they are
at the age where certain social issues like teenage pregnancy or drugs and
alcohol abuse begin. Teenagers are becoming independent, and without the right
guidance, they can easily slip away from the right track.
It’s every parent’s dream to
watch their child grow into a good and productive individual that can fend for
themselves in the future, a child that they’ll be proud of. This is why parents
must work on giving their children the best guidance and training possible.
Some parents don't really know
the best ways to rear and guide their teenager, but they try their best
anyways. They may be watching parenting videos, reading parenting books, and practicing
what they learn. This is great, but the truth is that every child is different,
and there is no master guidebook on raising children.
You just have to pick what works best for your child and hope for the best. Yes! You must hope for the best because some kids still turn out to be juvenile delinquents, criminals, and less than desirable individuals despite receiving all the best parenting tips in the book.
Effective
Parenting Tips:
1. Ditch The Parenting Books
Yes, ditch the parenting
books. As we said earlier, every child is unique, and one book cannot tell you
how to properly raise your child. If you have more than one child or if you are
always around a lot of children, you would see that even twins have different behaviors.
So instead of relying on what
one book says, try to understand your child and work with what you learn about
them. Parenting books are not all bad because they can also be beneficial, but
it becomes a problem when a parent uses them to replace their own abilities.
What if the parenting style
recommended in your book is not the best for your child? What if it needs a few
adjustments? Learn to trust your instincts as a parent or caregiver.
2. Know When To Relax
Most parents become concerned
when their children are entering into their teenage years from around 13 or 14
years old. This is because the child is becoming more independent, and
sometimes parents might feel like they are losing control over their kids.
There are two ways in which
this feeling of losing control over your child can affect a parent. The first
one is by making parents feel the need to increase the intensity of discipline.
When this happens, it will always seem as if your child is out to disobey you,
so even the littlest things may annoy or aggravate you.
The other part of this is the
fear of confrontation or conflict. When parents feel that they are losing
control over their teens, they may want to avoid conflict with them to cope with
this change.
None of these methods may be
best; you just have to find a balance between obedience and freedom. If you
emphasize obedience, it may obviously make a child obey you, but it can have an
adverse effect on the child in the long term. They may fail to develop
important decision-making skills needed for survival. But also, zero discipline
doesn't help either. Find a balance between the two, know when to put your foot
down, and monitor situations.
3. Keep The Communication Lines
Open
Teenage years are the years
with your child going through a lot of things like dating, puberty, and
forming meaningful relationships and friendships. This can seem overwhelming to
them, and they will need someone to talk with about these issues.
Make sure you are there to listen to your
teenagers when they need you. This will not only ensure that they’re not
seeking advice from the wrong people, but it would also ensure that your child can
find a confidant in you.
Make sure that your teenager
can comfortably talk with you. If maybe due to some past parenting style, your
child seems a little withdrawn, try to make things right by being patient
enough so that your teenager can feel safe to open up to you.
4. Give Your Child The Benefit Of
The Doubt
Since teenagers can have such negative
reputations, some parents may already view raising teenagers as a challenge.
This mentality can have you feeling defeated even before the game begins. You
don’t have to believe that all you can do is watch helplessly as your sweet
children morph into unpredictable monsters.
This sets you and your teen up
for some sad, unfulfilled years together. Negative expectations can actually
encourage the very conduct you're trying to avoid. Believe that your teenager
is different and would do better. Have positive expectations and set these
expectations as goals for them.
Your teen aspires to be the
finest version of themselves. As a parent, it is your responsibility to assist
our children in this endeavor.
5. Prioritize Clear Boundaries, Rules,
And Discipline
Discipline is about teaching
your teen rather than punishing him or her. Set clear boundaries and discuss
what behaviors are appropriate and undesirable to urge your teen to behave
well. Make sure your teen knows exactly what’s expected of him or her
concerning set boundaries and has fair and suitable repercussions for his or
her actions. Setting clear boundaries also lets your teen know that you love
and care about them and are unwilling to simply let them “go over the cliff”
and fail.
While it's crucial to stick to
your rules as much as possible, you can make exceptions for some things like
bedtime if they consistently show that they can get up on time; they are
becoming independent. Setting priorities allows you and your teen to practice
negotiating and compromising.
However, think about how far
you're willing to bend ahead of time. Don't compromise when it comes to limits
for your teen's safety, such as substance misuse and sexual activity.
Conclusion
Raising a teenager can be
challenging yet rewarding. Teenagers face the risk of falling prey to many real
or negative influences like peer pressure, dating, teen pregnancy, drugs, and
alcohol. It is important to remember that good communication, listening, guidance,
listening, rules, discipline, and most of all lots and lots of love are great
to have between you and your teenager(s) when for them to live a good and
productive life, and grow up to be responsible and independent adults who make the
best decisions.
For
more information on teenagers, click the link, below: (Disclaimer: Affiliate Advertising. As an
Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.)
References
http://hopeforyourfamily.com/six-things-your-teen-needs-to-get-back-on-track/
https://dev.mytroubledteen.com/SearchResult/q/13-Tips-to-Help-You-Get-Your-Teenager-Back-on-Track/
https://www.sweetness-n-light.com/helping-your-teen-stay-on-track/
https://www.quora.com/How-do-I-keep-my-teen-on-track