How To Improve Communication With Your Teenager, According To A Licensed Counselor
Listen without judgment
“Sometimes [teens] just want to be heard,” says Cofield. “Parents may not always understand what their teens might be going through and it might seem irrelevant to them, but they should still be open to listening and validating their teen’s feelings. Parents should remember that the teenage years are significant to identity development and self-esteem. Talking down to teens or making them feel inferior will be detrimental to their self-esteem and have more long term effects on their identity and emotional development.”