Every parent must have wondered about the ways of building that emotional connection with their children. Little efforts and moments mount up to make the relationship stronger and better.

Adolescence refers to the period of human growth that occurs between childhood and adulthood. Adolescence begins at around age 10 and ends around age 21. Adolescence can be broken into three stages:

  1. Early adolescence starts from age 10 to 14
  2. Middle adolescence starts from age 15 to 17
  3. Late adolescence starts from age 18 to 21

Adolescents are extremely concerned with how they look, and they think others are concerned, too. They spend a large amount of time grooming, exercising, and modifying their physical appearance.

Relationships are often changing during adolescence. There is also a constant worry about sexual attractiveness. Adolescents complain about their parents preventing them from becoming independent, and they withdraw from them. They may try to assert their independence by refusing to bathe, not cleaning their rooms, and picking up annoying habits. There is an intense focus on peer groups during adolescence, and they tend to confide in each other more than they do in their parents. Risk-taking behaviors are significantly increased during adolescents. They lose their temper. They don’t want to listen to their parents. They feel like they can do anything. They are very powerful.

During this adolescence, there are risks of choosing the wrong way like substance abuse, mental health disorders, illegal behaviors, pregnancy, and infectious diseases. So parents of adolescence have to be more mindful and careful. The parents need to handle the situations at times with awareness and be more careful. When the child is behaving aggressively, if the parents react in the same way too, the outcome of that situation would be bad. For example, if a child closed the door angrily instead of giving them time to be cool, if the parents started banging on the door the child would be fiercer.

 

Things Parents can do for their Children.

  • Make a schedule with the help of your child.
  • Remain calm and reassuring.
  • Look for ways to balance your needs and the needs of your child.
  • Listen carefully. Focus without distractions such as TV, social media, and phones. Be fully engaged as you listen to the stories your child tells.
  • Attempt to see your child as perfect just as they are. Accept them even when it is difficult.
  • Go for a walk around the house. If possible, do a workout together.
  • Noticing our feelings when we conflict with our child.
  • Learning to pause before responding in anger.
  •  Listening carefully to a child’s viewpoint even when disagreeing with it.
  • Set aside some time as a family to discuss how everyone is feeling and coping through unusual times. Don’t minimize their feelings or needs.
  • Focus on what your expectations are for your child and how you communicate those expectations. Do you have their best interest in mind?