Teaching Teens Responsibility

Give your teenagers responsibility. Make sure they have household responsibilities or chores which they are expected to do consistently and for which they are appreciated. Praise your teen for doing their chores consistently which will motivate them to do them ongoing and also improve their sense of belonging and purpose in the home. Teens want to feel important and need to learn what it means to have a commitment and follow through. Teaching this lesson within the home is a great way to begin to instill a sense of responsibility in your teenager.

Go to Elite Life Coaching for additional parenting resources and to get information on our coaching packages and specials!

Does My Teenager Have Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)?

Have you ever wondered if your teenager has ADD? Signs of ADD can include:  being easily distracted by sounds or motions, forgetting appointments, losing track of time, forgetting where things are, forgetting tasks including homework or chores, short attention span, trouble remembering things learned, frequent daydreaming or trouble focusing or remembering things in general despite having a desire to do so. If you are concerned that your teenager has ADD, it is good to get a professional opinion as there are good treatment options, both with medication and with therapy which can teach your teen techniques to help them manage their symptoms without medication.

Go to Elite Life Coaching for additional parenting resources and to get information on our coaching packages and specials!

Teens And Lies

Are you concerned that your teen lies a lot? Or even if not telling blatant lies, that they tell half-truths, omit information, provide confusing information or pretend they don’t recall the facts? This can be very frustrating to say the least. If you feel your teenager is lying a lot, you should address it head on. Let them know that it upsets you and disappoints you because you want to have an open and trusting relationship with them. Be clear with them what the consequences for lying will be and make sure you follow through with these consequences consistently.

Go to Elite Life Coaching for additional parenting resources and to get information on our coaching packages and specials!

Rules And Consequences - Involve Your Teen

Have you ever tried to include your teenager in establishing fair rules and consequences? Sometimes this is really powerful and significantly reduces arguments when rules are broken. If doing this, it should be during a calm time when the whole family can sit together and be thoughtful. Most importantly, whether rules and consequences are created with or without your teenager, it is important that you are always consistent and that your teen is clear about what is OK and what is not OK before the rules are broken.

Go to Elite Life Coaching for additional parenting resources and to get information on our coaching packages and specials!

Teens And Stress

Does your teenager seem to be stressed out all the time? There is a lot of pressure on teens these days and they can feel the emotional and physical effects of stress just like adults do. If your teen is stressed out you may try the following things: help them make sure they have healthy eating and sleeping habits, help them limit caffeine and sugar, role model for them how to relax (do yoga, go play a sport with them, go for a walk, read, etc) and most importantly check in with them. Validate what they are feeling, help them label it and then support them in managing it.

Go to Elite Life Coaching for additional parenting resources and to get information on our coaching packages and specials!

Oppositional Defiant Disorder

If your teenager seems to have chronic anger, hostility, defiance or aggression, they may have Oppositional Defiant Disorder. This is a set of behavior patterns that usually develops sometime between the ages of 7 and 13 and which can grow increasing concerning as teens get older. If you feel your teenager may fit this category, you should have them meet with a professional who can help you distinguish what is going on (whether it is normal adolescence or a more serious issue) and who can also provide treatment as needed. Treatment for these issues usually involves behavior modification therapy to help teens change their overall patterns of behavior. Not addressing this issue can result in your teen having significant difficulties at home, in school and with peers.

Go to Elite Life Coaching for additional parenting resources and to get information on our coaching packages and specials!

Parenting With Your Ex

Being able to co-parent a teenager following a divorce or separation can be very difficult, however, it is really important that you and your ex are able to work cooperatively in the eyes of your teen. Sometimes communicating via a neutral party or via email or text is easier for ex-partners than trying to have ongoing conversations. Remember to always do what is best for your child, not what is best for you. Your child wants to have a positive relationship with both their parents and it is important that both parents allow for and support this which may mean making compromises or not “winning” certain disagreements. Putting your child first will pay off in the long run and you will spare them the lasting and sometimes significant effects of being placed in the middle of a divorce.

Go to Elite Life Coaching for additional parenting resources and to get information on our coaching packages and specials!