Whether you are a parent, grandparent, or guardian, this part of the website has been designed with you in mind. Each area will help you as a parent to talk with your teen and to come up with ways to handle a multitude of situations. We invite you to explore the entire Relationship Matters website!
Questions?
Help for Parents
talking to your teen
How to talk to your teens
Most parents want to talk with their teenagers, but many feel uncomfortable doing it. Often, parents are unsure of how to go about it.
Young people who have parents that talk with them about dating and relationships have more positive romantic relationships.
Teens really do value what their parents say; they just wish that you would say it in a way that doesn’t come across as lecturing. Your teen is getting information from many different sources: friends, music, media, internet and more. Your teen is forming their opinions, beliefs and values from these groups. You want to make sure that you are one of the top sources of information.
Below are some tips to get the conversation started with your teen
- Take a consulting or coaching role
- Listen
- Only offer advice when asked
- Avoid giving orders
- Stay relaxed and warm in your tone
- Talk in the car, at the store, everywhere
- Make talking an everyday occurrence
- Try to be understanding
- Remember how it felt when you were a teenager
- Be honest
- Accept their feelings
- Apologize when you are wrong
