Understanding Your Teenager

A summer job is a fantastic growing opportunity for your teen. They could have the kind of positive experience that changes their lives. They could make new friends and learn something about following through with a commitment. If you’re going to nudge or encourage them in some way to commit, you have to do it with compassion and empathy

Your teenage son or daughter most likely doesn’’t want to hear what you have to say, or how you did it back in “your day.” What teens really want when they come to you in these situations is actually pretty simple. They want to feel “seen,” and for you to validate their feelings.

View Video Transcript How do you get your teenager to think before he acts? Well, we’re going to talk about that today on tips on teens. My name is Kent Toussaint. I’m a licensed marriage and family therapist, and I specialize in helping kids, teens, and families live happier lives. I lead two organizations teen

As adults, we can all probably remember being in situations where we had really big emotions but not been able to express them. Some parents might be tempted to take a “pull yourself up by the bootstraps and get going” kind of attitude with their kid. If your kid is in this kind of situation though, he or she is probably not in the “able to receive advice column.” Rather, they need emotional support.

Kids also are growing up in a culture where online anonymity allows kids to say whatever they want with no repercussions. Sometimes kids think the kind of culture they experience online is okay in real life

Are the lines that you draw with your kids hazy, ill defined or just plain broken? What are the consequences of having no consequences?