Activities on Communication Between Teens and Parents

Writing Activities

• Use a written or typed message -- such as a letter, text message, email or message on a social media website -- to talk with your teen about your life, feelings, past experiences, hopes or family. Don't use the written or typed message to pry into your child's life but attempt to open communication with it. Let your teen get to know more about you through the message to show you have dealt with many of the same issues and feelings. Continue to write to him periodically even if he doesn't respond to show that you have an interest in communicating. If your teen starts to write back to you, read what he writes without judgment and maintain a neutral tone when you write back to him about topics he has discussed.

Fun Activities

• Set aside time each week for playing a board game or card game with your teen, throwing a baseball, playing video games, shooting hoops or an activity in which you don't have to talk about serious topics. Start by talking with your teen about the game or activity, and the conversation may lead to more serious topics. If your teen opens up to you about something she did, such as having sex, avoid lecturing her so that she'll come to you with major issues again. Talk to your child about certain topics, such as safe sex practices, the value of education or the dangers of drug use, during special talks. Don't use activities as a way to get into serious discussions with your child.

Excursions

• Regularly go with your teen to places you both enjoy -- such as museums, zoos, sports arenas or stadiums, theaters, parks or malls -- and talk with him about what's going on around you. Discuss artwork, plays, movies, animals, sports teams or clothing items that you see to start communicating with him. Don't discuss issues that could upset your teen, such as grades, fights, family issues or relationship problems, until your child brings them up in a conversation. When your teen talks to you, listening actively, showing with your verbal and nonverbal gestures that you're interested in what he is saying, and try not to interrupt him.

Special Communication Activities

• Special communication exercises or activities get people to talk with each other as they complete tasks. When you do these activities with your teen, include other members of your family or friends so your child doesn't feel singled out. One common communication game called "telephone" asks participants to whisper a message or a story into the ear of the person next to her. After the last person hears the story or message, she tells the story so that everyone can see how much the story has changed from the original version. If you do this with your teen, incorporate topics she finds interesting, such as music, movies, friends, family members or video games, into the message. Another game called "two truths and one lie" asks one person to say three statements, two of which are true and one that isn't. Other participants try to guess which statement is the lie.

  Sometimes role-playing activities help family members to better understand each other. During these activities, you, your teen and other family members pretend to be each other to get a better understanding of how you see each other. Role-playing activities will help you and your teen find better ways to communicate in the future.