How to Convince Teen Boys Not to Do Something

Teen boys can seem unswayable. Adopting a persona that says, ̶0;I have made my decision and don̵7;t you even try to change it,̶1; they can send the message to their parents that they are completely beyond the reach of coaxing. While it is true that teen boys can be formidable foes in the war of persuasion, with persistence and attention to their communication styles, you can improve your chances of swaying your teen̵7;s behavior.

Instructions

    • 1

      Talk to your teen often. If you only speak to your teen boy when you want to sway his actions, your relationship will likely not be strong enough to convince him of anything. Set the groundwork for effective persuasion by talking to him often about things that interest him, recommends the American Academy of Pediatrics.

    • 2

      Keep it short. The more words you use, the more likely you are to see your teen boy tuning out, suggests Uriah Guilford, child and teen counselor, with Help This Kid. To ensure that your teen is tuned in from start to finish, choose your words judiciously.

    • 3

      Discuss, don̵7;t lecture. Communication should be a two-way street when trying to convince your teen boy. If you make a demand and don̵7;t allow him to insert his input, he will feel that you are being dictatorial and will likely decline to follow your request. Keep it conversational by posing questions instead of making statements whenever possible. Make your questions open-ended to induce responses more thoughtful than ̶0;yes̶1; and ̶0;no.̶1;

    • 4

      Sneak your discussion into an activity. If you sit down with your teen and force eye contact, you may intimidate him. Avoid this by talking to him while you are doing something. If you speak to him while you fish, toss the football around or help him work on his skateboarding skills, you not only show him that you like spending time with him, but you also avoid making him feel intimidated.

    • 5

      Give reasons. ̶0;Because I said so,̶1; may have been your parents̵7;s go-to reason, but it won̵7;t work if you want your teen to fully commit to the action you have suggested, not just go along with it because he feels he has no other choice. Show him that your suggestion is based on something other than your own personal proclivity by giving solid reasons to support your stance, suggests Barbara McRae, MCC for Teen Frontier.

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