Behavior Management for Teens
Negative adolescent behavior might be related to stress they feel at this difficult time in their lives -- they are trying to meet parental expectations, balance school with friends and get ready to enter the first adult phase of their lives. Behavior problems run the gamut from minor offenses such as talking back to major problems such as shoplifting, risky sexual behaviors or joining a gang. Traditional disciplinary methods might not be effective, so where do you start when it comes to behavior management for teens?
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Monitoring and Rules
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Experts recommend that parents have clear expectations for their teen's behavior, according to the book "Parental Monitoring of Adolescents: Current Perspectives for Researchers and Practitioners," written by academic researchers and sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The book recommends meeting your teen̵7;s friends and parents and monitoring her activities. In addition, they suggest talking with your teen about the rules and explaining the consequences, then enforcing penalties in a timely and fair manner when rules are broken.
Model Good Behavior and Respect
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Adolescence is a time when teens might be more influenced by their peers than parents. However, they are still looking to you as a role model and guide. If you model good judgment and respect, your teen will likely develop these same qualities. Take time to listen to your teen̵7;s concerns daily, and try to empathize with them to promote an atmosphere of respect. If teens are given respect, they will be more likely to return the favor.
Discipline vs. Punishment
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Elaine Wilson, parenting specialist with the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service, says that discipline teaches self-control and helps children develop a value system, whereas punishment controls behavior. Discipline helps teens develop self-control, responsibility and values with praise and encouragement and by rewarding good behavior. Punishment temporarily stops unwanted behaviors, but it might damage self-esteem, cause resentment and encourage sneaky behavior. Examine your behavior modification practices often to see what is working for your teen. Make changes where necessary if some of your actions are ineffective.
Natural Consequences
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Parents can use natural or logical consequences to help teens become more responsible, according to a publication by Iowa State University Extension. The 3 R̵7;s of natural or logical consequences are that they should be reasonable, related and respectful. The idea is to set limits and then allow teens to make choices about how they behave, or accept the consequence of misbehavior.
Consider Outside Help
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Sources of outside help might be necessary if teens are unresponsive to your efforts. Consider a psychologist or group counseling when looking for help with teen behavioral issues. Extended family and friends can act as a support system in getting your teen back on track, too. Residential treatment programs might also work to modify difficult teen conduct. Examine these programs closely before considering this more extreme option.
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Telling little white lies may seem harmless at the time, but any type of lie can breach the trust between a parent and a teen. If your household is witness to slamming doors, lies about whereabouts and arguments that never seem to end, it’s tim
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Parents need to have private conversations with their teens about sensitive topics that are often uncomfortable to discuss. Teens often receive hard talk advice about puberty and sex best from a same-sex parent. However, single parents can also cover
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Many teenagers appear to be permanently attached to their cell phones, and prying them away -- even while in school -- is often difficult. If your teen’s favorite pastime is texting, you might find that he is texting during class when he should
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