How to Cope With Puberty

When it comes to raising kids, stages of development bring joy and challenges. When you never thought the terrible twos would end, you were rewarded with a sweet 3-year-old who aimed to please - most of the time anyway. Now you're facing what may be your biggest parenting challenge yet - puberty. With some proactive strategies, you and your child will survive.

Instructions

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      Educate yourself, suggests KidsHealth.org. Puberty begins in boys between the ages of 9 and 15 years old for boys and 8 to 13 years old for girls and continues through the teen years. If your child seems to be acting odd, talk to his pediatrician and teach to find out what may be going on. Read up on what is normal physically and emotionally for your child's age and sex.

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      Don't take things personally. During puberty, kids can get irritable, overly emotional and critical. While there is no need to let your child disrespect you, you may find life is easier if you carefully choose your battles - or else you may find yourself battling over everything. If your child suddenly finds you a total embarrassment: your clothes are uncool, your music is ridiculous and your hair is a joke, try to take this attitude with a grain of salt and remember that you likely had the same thoughts about your own mother when you were his age. It's part of the search for his own identity and the natural inner nudge to pull away from parents a bit and seek independence. Add the irritability and self-consciousness that are also part of the pubescent packaging, and you can see the criticism and eye-rolling really isn't personal.

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      Spend time together. Find something you both enjoy and try to make a habit of it, whether it's going for a run on weekends, reading together or taking up a craft. When engaged in an activity, kids are more likely to share feelings too because they don't feel that spotlight of attention. Even if the activities don't involve much talking, like watching a movie together, just spending time with each other can help you feel connected.

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      Find support in other parents. If you have a partner, confide your stresses and concerns. You can also talk to the parents of other kids and teens, like your child's friends, who are going through the same thing. Sometimes just venting can be a powerful stress reliever. If you don't know many people, look for online support groups for parents of other kids in the puberty stage.

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