These questions to help you connect with your teen are a great way to stay involved in their life, while helping them grow in their independence at the same time.
Teens who feel connected to their families statistically do better in all walks of life. They tend to have better grades, engage in fewer risky behaviors, and enjoy a heightened sense of well-being.
Staying connected takes time and effort. As a parent, you may sometimes feel lost when it comes to ways to reach out to your teen. If that’s the case for you, consider these questions as you seek to connect with your teen.
Make certain to check out these tips on How to Prepare Your Teenager for a Job Interview as well.
6 Questions to Help You Connect With Your Teen
These questions can spark conversations with your teen that can open up the lines of communication in a natural and easy way.
What does your perfect day look like?
Ask your teen to describe their perfect day. You might be surprised at what activities they’d include.
When was the last time you felt really confident?
Confidence is a struggle for many teens. Our minds are a powerful tool when it comes to how we deal with those emotions. Opening the door for them to remember when they did feel confident can help them feel empowered all over again. You will also learn a lot about what your teen is proud of by the answer they give you.
What’s your least favorite part of your day?
Want to know what your teen is really struggling with right now? Ask them about their least favorite part of the day. It might be some everyday part of life like getting out of bed in the morning – it really is a challenge for many tired teens! But you might learn about more serious issues, like problems with schoolwork or a negative influence they’re encountering.
Who do you really admire?
Your child’s heroes will tell you a lot about their own dreams, aspirations, and values. Ask them about the people they look up to most, whether they are well-known public figures or people your family knows personally.
How’s your friend doing?
For many teens, relationships and social life are a top priority. Make an effort to understand your teen’s social world. Show them you care about the people they spend time with.
What’s on your mind?
Sometimes open-ended questions lead to the best conversations. Give your teen ample opportunities to vent or talk about whatever’s on their mind. Resist the urge to “fix” every problem. A listening ear is often all that’s needed to help your teen work through challenges.
More Tips for Staying Connected To Your Teen
It’s also important to nurture your connection outside of the conversations you have with your teen. For example, these practices will help you have a better relationship:
- Understand their struggles. Being a teen is tough. You’re feeling more like an adult and are often expected to act like one. At the same time, you’re restricted and sheltered in many ways as if you’re still a child. This gray area between childhood and autonomy is not at all easy to navigate, which can make life feel overwhelming at times. It can be easy to forget the struggle and feel that teens are “over-dramatic” or overly emotional when the truth is they are just really stressed out!
- Respect their privacy. While it’s important to know what’s going on in your teen’s life and keep them safe, as we mature we all have an increased need for privacy. Don’t be offended by your teen’s sudden need for alone time. It’s a completely normal part of their development.
- Encourage appropriate independence. Giving your teen more responsibilities gives them a chance to demonstrate all the ways they are growing. Mistakes will happen, but it’s all part of the learning process.
Staying connected to your teen isn’t always easy. Taking the time to nurture your relationship is well worth the benefits for their well-being and for your parenting experience.
More Parenting Topics
- How to Prepare Your Teenager for a Job Interview
- Entering the Teenage Years
- Quiet Time with Our Teenagers
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