How to Help Teens Develop a Positive Attitude

Evaluate your own attitude. A child's attitude is a learned behavior, according to child expert Dr. Michelle Borba. Teens watch their parents and how they react to certain experiences and events. Children learn a good portion of their belief system from their parents. Therefore, a parent̵7;s attitude and a loving home environment are important to help develop positive attitudes in teens.

Teach them how to self-talk. This is the little voice in our heads which we use to communicate with ourselves. Positive self-talk will have a direct influence on how positive a person's attitude and actions are. Tell your teen instead of using negative statements, replace them with positive ones. For example, "I can do this right, I just need to concentrate" is much better than "I failed again, I never do anything right." If you promote positive self-talk you should notice a distinct change in the teenager's attitude.

Avoid harsh criticism, especially if it includes humiliation and mockery. Sometimes it will be necessary to criticize your teen, and as a parent, you are right to do it. However, if the criticism is harsh, this could have a negative effect on the teen̵7;s attitude. The way you word criticism is important, and does not mean you have to make any less of a point. Using "I" instead of "you" statements is a good way to communicate with your teenager, says the Child Development Institute. For example, "I would like you to tidy your room" is better than "You never tidy up after yourself, you lazy girl." The result should be the same; however, the first statement is more an opinion, whereas the second is negative and insulting.

Encourage him to take up new hobbies or pursue new interests. This gives him the opportunity to do something by himself and encourages him to work toward achievements. The fact you trust him to be independent will make him feel positive. Doing something he enjoys will also increase his confidence, especially if he receives any official recognition. Activities based on cooperation or working together rather than competition is also a good way to build a positive attitude.

Teach your teen to aim high, while showing her how to acknowledge her limitations. There is no problem having dreams and aspirations, as long as they are realistic. If your teen wants to achieve the impossible, this will only make her feel negatively when she fails to do it. Unrealistic expectations are one of the biggest causes of negative attitudes in children, says the Kids Health website.

Try to praise your teenager when he deserves it. Show him you appreciate him and recognize when he makes positive choices. Most teenagers will bask in their parent's praise, so be sure to give credit when credit is due. Your teen's attitude will be much more positive if you also show him respect as well as command it from him.