Raising a teen is one of the most important jobs there is. It’s also one of the hardest!
I know you want to be having conversations about sex and relationships, and to do that, you’ll need a good foundation in place.
To that end, I have a few tips to share with you:
- Be available and listen more than you talk. If you’re hanging around the kitchen when your teen gets home and wants a snack, you’re much more likely to hear about their day. Follow the 1:3 rule – you talk for one minute and they talk for 3.
- Tell stories instead of giving advice or directions. We all prefer to learn from someone else’s experience rather than be told what to do, and our brains are wired to remember stories easily.
- Explain social nuance. Your teen is awkward and would so love not to be! Explain how their sentence might land for someone else and suggest a way to rephrase it. Explore gray areas that they find tricky, like trying to be sexy without being slutty, or trying to be well groomed without being image obsessed.
In support of you,
Anya
P.S. If you’re looking for more ideas on how to connect with your kids, click here to schedule a call with me.
P.P.S. Up for a challenge? Check out the Talking with Teens about Sex & Relationships webinar for a guide to how to help your teen navigate adolescent sexuality.
