Parenting: Discussing Self-Control with Teenagers

Parenting: Discussing Self-Control with Teenagers – as part of the expert series by GeoBeats. Discussing Self-Control with Teenagers By self-control we mean having sex, if we mean using drugs, drinking alcohol, smoking cigarettes. This is a time when you really want to ask questions rather than give the child a lecture. You want to make it a collaborative conversation between you and your teenager. So, instead of saying something like, "I heard those kids that you're hanging out with are really wild at parties and I don't want you to go there anymore," it's better to say, "What's your opinion of what those kids are doing when you're at a party together," so that you've got a conversation happening instead of just a lecture. Kids don't respond well to lectures. Kids do not change their behavior based on a lecture that their parents gave them, but they really respond to being respected and hearing their opinions. And then, just letting some air be there in the conversation. Don't think you have to jump in and fix everything right away. Let the child think. If you've got a little bit of time, which you should have, to give the child time to think and come up with his or her own theories about things, it's a very excellent exercise in creating a child who's a thinker instead of an order taker. And this is what you want. You want someone who thinks for him or herself. Then, when you hear the opinion from your child, give them heartfelt appreciation for telling you whatever it <b>…</b>