No matter what happens, teenagers will always act like teenagers. No matter how prepared we think we are or how much we've planned, teenagers often find ways to rebel. Their attitudes can change drastically, especially when they hit puberty. Even if they were well-behaved as children, they can become quite different when they embrace the "teen" lifestyle. We've all been through it ourselves; and in some way or another, we caused our parents headaches and heartaches, just as teenagers do now. Adolescence is a time of immense change in every person's life. It involves rapid physical, emotional, and mental development. Teenagers embark on a journey of self-discovery, forming their identities and seeking independence. Parenting during this period requires patience, understanding, and flexible strategies to support their growth and well-being. Teenagers undergo significant developmental changes that shape their behaviors and perspectives. Physically, puberty brings hormonal shifts and growth spurts, affecting their appearance and bodily functions. Emotionally, they experience heightened sensitivity, mood swings, and a desire for independence. Their brains also undergo important rewiring, improving their ability to think critically while they are still learning to control impulses and make decisions. Think back to when we were teenagers and struggled to understand our feelings, felt misunderstood by our families, and dealt with skin issues at the worst times. Today's teenagers face similar challenges, often feeling overwhelmed by their changing bodies and emotions. Like a virus, teenage issues can change over time. Effective parenting is crucial during this period, though there's no perfect approach. It involves finding a balance between providing guidance and allowing independence. Open Communication Open communication is key. Cliché as it sounds, but it is the key and also one of the hardest thing to do. As parents, especially those who work full time, we may not always have the time or energy to communicate everything to our teenagers. We may lose our patience or be dealing with unresolved childhood issues that cloud our judgment. However, breaking this cycle is essential for becoming better parents. Open communication creates a safe space for teenagers to express their thoughts, feelings, and concerns without fear of judgment. We may become upset about what our teenagers post on social media, but we should step back, control our reactions, and learn to express our views without being prejudiced or authoritarian. Instead, we must listen actively and accept their emotions, even when we don't necessarily agree with their ideas. Else they will block you and you wouldn’t know what’s going on anymore. Setting Boundaries Setting clear boundaries while promoting independence helps teenagers understand the expectations and consequences of their actions. Collaborating with them to establish rules respects their growing autonomy while ensuring mutual respect and responsibility. For example, my ninth-grade son attends one of the prestigious science schools in the Philippines. When he asked to join the volleyball club, I agreed under the condition that it wouldn't affect his academics. I also made it clear that he couldn't use tiredness from practices as an excuse to skip classes. Another practice I follow is recognizing and celebrating my teen’s unique interests, strengths, and preferences. Despite my preference for him to choose the ABM (Accountancy, Business, and Management) strand, I fully supported his decision to pursue STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). In ninth grade, we discovered his strength in research, so we supported him throughout his experiments in tenth grade. We also discuss his plans for college, and I've encouraged him to pursue any field that involves "Tech" (such as Biotech or Agritech). Rescpect Their Individuality Even when he was young, I always involved my son in decisions that impacted his life. In sixth grade, I encouraged him to consider attending my old high school, which was within walking distance and offered an advanced science program through DOST. However, he expressed a preference for Quezon City Science High School, so we had him take the entrance exam, which he successfully passed. Empower Decision-Making By eighth grade, he started feeling the pressure and jokingly remarked that he should have followed our advice. He found his classmates highly competitive and superior. I reminded him that attending that school had been his dream, and he needed to persevere. Together, we discussed his priorities, what adjustments he needed to make, and how to manage his time effectively for academics. We also talked about handling peer pressure and maintaining his composure. Parenting during this challenging time was tough because teenagers, as mentioned earlier, often find ways to rebel and may not always be receptive. However, through patience and consistency, I was able to share my experiences and knowledge with him. Model Positive Behavior I strongly believe in leading by example. My understanding of my teenager's behavior is influenced by my experience managing younger staff at work, where I encounter various attitudes. This prepared me well for puberty, as I've practiced active listening and developed patience. When it comes to expressing my feelings, I ensure I don't react during his tantrums. Instead, I give him space to express his emotions. There have been moments when I felt like reacting impulsively, but I've chosen to remain silent. I wait a day or two before discussing my thoughts with him, explaining how his tantrums affected me. Over time, I've observed that he has started apologizing on his own and explaining why he acted out. This is the behavior I encourage him to adopt in his interactions at school. I consistently emphasize to him the importance of avoiding unnecessary conflicts and asserting his rights at the right time. I stress that not every situation needs to be resolved through argumentation. Encourage Independence Having experienced "smart-shaming" myself, I understand the importance of equipping my teenager with skills beyond academics. I firmly believe in household chores as a foundation for developing mental and emotional readiness. Chores can be a challenge for teens, especially boys. While I might ask him to do the dishes, I give him the flexibility to choose when he completes them. Over time, he has taken the initiative without needing reminders, whether it's doing laundry or cleaning his room. The one area we're still working on is establishing a bedtime routine. He struggles to go to bed early, but I emphasize the importance of waking up on time for class regardless of how much sleep he gets. I prioritize attendance over sleep, believing it's a necessary trade-off for staying up late. Promote Healthy Habits Encouraging healthy habits is challenging for us due to our night shift work schedule and the resulting lack of adequate sleep. Nevertheless, I consistently remind my teenager to take his vitamins, ensure he drinks sterilized milk, and prioritize sleep. Lately, I've been making an effort to engage in small conversations with him, encourage volleyball setting drills, and discuss topics related to volleyball players. I also encourage him to spend time outdoors with his friends or participate in volleyball practice games to prevent him from being glued to screens at home. Stay Informed and Involved Lastly, it's crucial to stay informed and engaged. Fortunately, I have a good memory for names, so when my son shares stories about his activities, I can always recall the people he mentions. This shows him that I care and pay attention, which encourages him to share more enthusiastically. Research is a topic we delve into extensively. He often asks me to review his projects, and we discuss his coaches, teammates, and strategies for presenting his ideas in a constructive and impactful manner. Whenever I inquire about his day and he mentions I do not know the people involved, I ensure not to press further unless he chooses to share more willingly. Indeed, parenting teenagers is a dynamic journey that requires adaptability, patience, and unconditional love. By understanding their developmental needs and fostering a supportive environment, parents can empower teenagers to navigate adolescence with confidence and resilience. Effective parenting during this transformative phase lays the foundation for healthy relationships, personal growth, and future success. In essence, parenting teenagers is about being a guiding presence, offering support, and nurturing their journey toward adulthood with understanding and respect for their evolving identities and aspirations. Teenagers will always be teenagers, and someday they will become parents or educators themselves. Let's remind them that they once experienced the challenges of adolescence, and we were there to support them through it.

This perennial bestseller (with more than 100,000 copies sold) has been completely revised and updated for a new generation of teenagers and their parents. Since its initial publication in 1995, Uncommon Sense for Parents with Teenagers has ushered countless families through the trying years of adolescence. In this fully revised and updated edition, Riera tackles some of the newest issues facing parents and teens, and gives a second look to the old standbys—alcohol and drugs, academics, sex and dating, sports and extracurriculars, eating disorders, making friends, single parenting, divorce, and more. Riera channels his unpatronizing approach and two decades of experience working with teens into this optimistic and indispensable book.

Develop and improve your relationship with teenagers. The teenage years are complex, exciting and often turbulent. Growth, development and learning are intrinsic to this period and every teenage experience is different. For anyone who cares about a teenager's wellbeing, development and learning, this Practical Guide offers a theoretically informed way of thinking about, understanding and actually living with teenagers. Focusing on the three major issues prevalent in teenage years: achievement, belonging and control, and the behaviors that fall within these categories, experienced professional educational psychologist Kairen Cullen expertly draws upon a wealth of experience and the different psychological theories and approaches that can be used to address each issue.

The popular RTÉ series Teens in the Wild showed David Coleman doing what he does best: taking families who were locked in conflict and turning things around. It wasn't always easy, but the results were dramatic, moving and inspiring. The key to a successful journey through adolescence centres on the recognition that parenting styles have to develop and progress through this period. In Parenting is Child's Play: The Teenage Years, David Coleman explains why adolescence gets such a bad press and, reassuringly, why parents don't have to dread it. Even if affection, respect and cooperation seem to be replaced by contempt, rejection and recalcitrance, there is an explanation for these changes and they don't have to cause irreparable damage. Parenting is Child's Play: The Teenage Years provides key information about what is going on with your child, and is brimming with helpful advice and down-to-earth strategies. For parents supporting their children on one of the most important journeys they'll ever undertake - the journey from childhood to adulthood - it is essential reading.

This multiple award-winning e-book, written for anyone working with young people, is life-changing. It shows how to have young people influence themselves to become more responsible by implementing three practices and by using the Raise Responsibility System. Bribes in the form of rewards, threats, and/or imposed punishments are not necessary. By showing how to promote responsibility, rather than aiming at obedience, you become more effective, improve relationships, promote responsibility, and reduce stress for all. Winner of the Mom’s Choice Award Winner of the Eric Hoffer Book Award Winner of the International Book Award Winner of the ForeWord Reviews Book Award Winner of the USA Book News Best Books Award

Adolescence marks a special and unique stage in human growth and development, but it can be an extremely challenging time for both parents and teenagers. In The Parents and Educators Manual of Teenage Rebirth, author Bruce G. Bentley provides an understanding of how teenagers think, feel, and experience themselves in relation to others and the world with the goal of assisting them in their battle to master adolescence. To help those caring for teens gain a greater understanding of child and adolescent psychology, Bentley applies principles of those disciplines, along with psychologically pertinent literature, to real-life stories of puberty, bullying, aggressive behavior, abuse, and suicide. This manual provides parents and educators with effective tools to understand, inform, challenge, and guide teens through adolescence so they can develop an independent and strengthened adulthood. It also offers teens a descriptive road map of what they can expect and what they can do to help ease anxieties and fears as they encounter life's uncertainties; it helps them to be better prepared for the changes or "rebirths" into new realms of relationships and responsibilities. The Parents and Educators Manual of Teenage Rebirth aims to ease the journey through the dark, mysterious, and wonderful world of adolescence with its joys and strugglesand beyond.

Help your readers to explore the issues surrounding teen parenting. The pro versus con format of the essays in this book presents diversity of opinion on the topic, including both conservative and liberal points of view in an even balance. Readers will evaluate several issues, such as whether the children of teen parents are disadvantaged, whether babies of teen fathers have greater health challenges, and whether teen parenting TV shows are realistic. Your readers will be able to make wise choices after learning these facts.

Is your teenager self-focused and un-appreciative? There is no greater influence in the life of a teenager, than his or her parents, yet most parents spend very little time considering how to strategically mentor their teenagers towards spiritual maturity. In A Parent's Guide for Raising Spiritually Mature Teenagers, author Greg Grimwood equips parents with practical and easy-to-implement strategies for helping your teenagers grow into godly young adults.