Teenage Consumers | Forever Young

Two adolescent couples at the 2009 Western Ida...

The teenage years are a crucial time for building self-awareness and self-esteem. These two things int urn build a teenager who is happy and confident in who they are and where they are headed in life. Here are some helpful hints of allowing your teenager to develop a healthy sense of self-esteem and identity.

Let Them Be Themselves

Ok, so this may not be right if, for your teen, being themselves involves destructive behaviour. For the most part, a teenager is looking for ways to find out who they are through expressing their individuality.

They may want to express themselves through the clothes they wear, the music they listen to, or the kinds of books they read. Whatever the case, as long as it is not self-destructive, there is every reason you should allow your teen to be themselves.

If they do happen to be doing something which you don’t agree with personally, such as following a different religion, then have a chat to them and see if it is a serious interest or just a passing phase.

Stay Positive

No matter what happens with your teenager, staying positive is a crucial part to developing a healthy sense of self-esteem. Many teenagers who lack self-esteem come from homes where negativity runs rampant. This external negativity is then internalized by the teen and reflected back, causing them to think negatively about themself. Do the best you can to stay positive and supportive for your teen.

Nobody said raising teens was easy, in fact it’s one of the most challenging jobs a parent faces. However letting your teen be themself and staying positive as a parent could make the bumpy road smoother.

Talking to Children About Divorce

Image via Wikipedia

You’ve made the decision to get divorced. Now what? How do you tell your children? Talking to your children about divorce is challenging, but here are a couple of tips to help you out.

Keep it Together

Once you have made the tough decision tom part ways, you will need to tell your children. No matter how many children you have it is a good idea to tell them as a couple and to tell all the children at the same time. This way, your child will see that you are both involved in this decision, and that it is not just the decision of one of you, or that the other has already left. It will also give your children the opportunity to ask questions if needed and to emotionally support each other.

Use Clear Language

don’t dance around the subject when explaining divorce to your children. Use very clear language which is age proper that they will be able to understand, and which will not confuse them. Be honest about the situation. You don’t need to go into details, such as telling your children that their mom or dad is going to stay at a friend or family members house for a while will only raise further questions that you will need to avoid. Saying something like ‘mom/dad is going to live at so-and-so’s place from now on because we have decided that being together isn’t working’ will be more digestible, even if it is still emotionally shocking for them.

Being honest and straight-forward with your children about divorce is the best way to approach the subject.

Building Self-esteem in Teens

Let Them Be Themselves

Stay Positive

Talking to Children About Divorce

Keep it Together

Use Clear Language

Categories

Recent Posts