How to Be More Trusting With Your Teen

It is natural for a teenager to want to spend an increasing amount of time away from his parents, and in doing so he will inevitably end up in situations where he has to make his own decisions. Because of this, parents often struggle to loosen the reins and give their teens the freedom they crave. Teenagers may push too far, fail to stick to rules and curfews, and make it even more difficult for their parents to trust them. It is crucial to try to be more trusting with your teen, for the sake of your sanity, his happiness and the future of your relationship.

Instructions

    • 1
      Teenagers often want to experiment with alcohol.

      Accept that your teenager wants to have new experiences as she approaches adulthood, including some you may not approve of. Remember what you were like as a teenager and try to relate to her desire for freedom. Of course, times have changed, but going to parties, experimenting with alcohol and cigarettes, and exploring sexuality have always been attractions for the majority of teenagers.

    • 2
      Work on building a healthy, positive relationship.

      Focus on all aspects of your relationship with your teenager. If you have a healthy, close relationship with plenty of mutual respect, it shouldn't be too difficult for you to trust him. Tension, arguing, poor communication and lack of respect, on the other hand, are all less likely to result in a trusting relationship. If your teen feels you think badly of him, he is more likely to behave badly, which of course makes it harder for you to trust him.

    • 3
      Try to make it easy for your teen to confide in you.

      Encourage your teenager to be honest with you -- even if she's going to tell you something you don't want to hear. Instinctively, most teens lie to their parents to hide a wrong-doing, for fear of the repercussions. If your teenager feels able to tell you the truth in the knowledge that you won't fly off the handle or dish out a severe punishment, your relationship will reap the benefits. Knowing what your teen is up to lets you have open, frank discussions about her choices, and make her more likely to make better decisions.

    • 4
      Stay close to your teen by communicating regularly.

      Enforce reasonable rules and curfews. Trusting your teenager does not mean letting him run amok and decide what he is doing, where he is going and who he is spending time with without giving you any say in the matter. Talk to your teen regularly about any concerns you have in relation to school, friends, love interests or bad habits. Explain why you are concerned and try to work out how you can resolve the issue together.

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