Helping Your Teenager Through Tough Times

Today, I’m sharing parenting advice on helping your teenager.  As a parent, we never want to see our children going through tough times. While challenges in life can be beneficial for their long-term development, that doesn’t make it any easier to watch them go through it.  It’s in our nature to want to help them, and make their lives a little easier.  Especially, when they are still young.

Tips on helping your teenager through tough times:

Start a Dialogue

Perhaps the best thing you can do is try to start a dialogue with your teenager. Sit down and have a chat with them. Learn what’s going on and how they are feeling about it. Some teenagers are more than happy to have someone to vent to.  Others will want to keep things to themselves and not answer your questions. In this scenario, do your best to be understanding and don’t pry. Just let them know you are around if they want to talk and occasionally offer again.

Starting a dialogue is the best way to learn about your child’s life and how you can help.  Avoid reading a diary or just guessing about what’s happening in their life. If you can get it straight from your child, this will be better for everyone involved.

Offer to Help

Once you have a better idea about what’s going on, you can look for ways to help. You may not be able to fix their problem entirely, but you may be able to lend a helping hand. For example, if they are struggling with schoolwork, you can offer to help or get a tutor.  Or, maybe you can let them off the hook on their chores for the week so that they have a little more time to get their work done or relax.

Another way you can help is by providing them with some tools to help themselves. For example, if they are regularly stressed out, you can offer books on stress management or meditation. Being a parent is about teaching your kids to handle problems.  This will ensure they are equipped to handle problems when they are out of the nest.  So, think about the ways you have solved similar problems.  Do some research online, then make some educated suggestions.

Provide Distractions

Sometimes your kids just need a distraction from whatever problem they are facing. If you want to help them, look for something that will distract them for a while. For example, if your teen has been spending the entire weekend studying for final exams take them out for ice cream.  Or, make a trip to the mall.

Maybe your teenager is currently in a fight with their boyfriend or girlfriend. Rather than having them spend all day inside upset about it, offer to take them to a movie. Sometimes getting your mind off things for just a few hours can help to put things in perspective and change your mood. It’s important that you teach your kids not only how to solve their problems, but how to have fun.

Give Them Space

Sometimes, there’s just nothing you can do at the moment for your teenager. They don’t want to talk, they don’t want your help, and all your attempts at a distraction are ignored. At times like this, it may just be better to give them some space. We all need our own time and space to work things out and teenagers are no different. Let them shut themselves away in their room for a day, then try to help them out again the following day.

Seek Additional Treatment

Finally, sometimes your teenager will be facing an issue that requires more than a day at the movies. Teenagers can face some very difficult times, and when this happens, they may need professional help to get through it.  If you find that your child is really having a hard time, look for a therapist they can talk to or consider teen residential treatment. Being a good parent often means getting your teenager the help they need, even if it doesn’t come from you.

We hope you use a few of the tips the next time you’re helping your teenager through a tough time. There’s no simple solution to helping your kid – all you can do is be there for them and try different things until your teen is feeling better.