How to Encourage Positive Behaviour in Teenagers

Teenagers are going through a unique developmental stage as they transition from being children to adulthood. While teens may seem complicated; when parents learn how to encourage positive behaviour in their teenagers; it is less of a struggle.

Their moods change, they have impulsive tendencies and are constantly searching for meaning. Many are also notorious for their not so great listening habits; which is just one of the many reasons why effective communication is so difficult.

Everyone can agree that parenting is one of the most challenging jobs. There is no textbook or manual out there to make things 100% easier.

Amidst the difficulty of parenting and the changing nature of teenagers, how can you encourage positive behaviour?

Below are some Techniques for Parents to Encourage Positive Behaviour 

Bring the family closer by spending quality time together.

There’s no better way to promote positive behaviour than to tear down the barriers between family members, especially when it comes to communication.

When everyone is more comfortable in each other’s presence, teenagers will naturally want to be around their parents and siblings. And they will cultivate a positive attitude as a result. 

When everyone is more comfortable in each other's presence, teenagers will naturally want to be around their parents and siblings. And they will cultivate a positive attitude as a result. Click To Tweet

What can you do? Take the family out and organise regular fun outings that everyone will enjoy. Have family meals together device free! You can also get creative by playing board games together and making participation non-negotiable.

Persuade your teenager to find some form of employment.

A lifeguard job, getting an internship or helping a neighbour out with babysitting, for example, can teach your teenager to be responsible. Learning work ethic and how to earn will help them to see the value of hard work and later on, they will understand the benefit of the experience. 

Whatever job they pick, please encourage them to ask friends or their parents for help to improve. Teens can learn a lot from service industry jobs. For example, they can learn the value of customer service, hard work, and good conduct. This all contributes to encouraging positive behaviours in your teenagers. 

These lessons can help them deal with daily tasks and relationships in the future.

Listen to your Teens

Teens often feel that their parents aren’t listening to them, and they’re constantly trying to prove a point. Why not change this?

Make it a point to listen and be interested in what they say. This action may encourage them to communicate with you more and thereby lead them to share more information about their lives. Actually, pay attention and drop your devices. 

And because enthusiasm is contagious, it will lead to better engagement. You’ll see the common ground you share with your teen’s interests, and your conversations will open up from there.

Take your teenager seriously

Teens are known for their independent thinking. Some teens can also be willful at times. However, this does not mean that you treat them differently or ignore them whenever they have an opinion.

Despite their “difficult” behaviours and antics, give them your undivided attention whenever they have something serious to say. Remember that the things they say and do are symptoms of the issues they’re facing. This could be related to school, a teacher they don’t like and their life on social media. 

While you may not have all the answers, you can certainly encourage them to find solutions independently. When your teenager feels understood and respected, it will encourage more positive behaviour. Everyone wants to feel loved and your children need to know that you love them unconditionally. 

Take time to have fun together

Parents who build fun activities into the day keep their teenagers and themselves happy. Joining a club or picking up an extracurricular activity is a great way to add fun to your parenting.

When you take the time to have fun, you improve your mood as a parent and your teen also recognizes the importance of prioritizing self-care. 

When you take the time to have fun, you improve your mood as a parent and your teen also recognizes the importance of prioritizing self-care. Click To Tweet

We have so many things that can cause worry. But when you look back years from today, you won’t remember the hard times as much as the fun memories we created with the people we love.

Read Also: Coaching as a Parent

Practise a Healthy Lifestyle as a Family

Remember to practice a healthy lifestyle as a family. This is because if either you or your teen doesn’t get adequate sleep each night or follows a poor diet; it increases mood swings and negative attitudes which ultimately affect everyone. 

Each year, the world becomes more complicated and challenging for children to navigate. However, there is no reason to fear because your relationship with your child can’t get broken by hardship. Especially, if you are focused on being an intentional parent through every stage. As teenagers develop, it is worth every minute of your time trying to understand them and building a strong connection. 

As teenagers develop, it is worth every minute of your time trying to understand them and building a strong connection. Click To Tweet

Each of us is unique, so parenting styles have to be adjusted to fit our children’s needs. Guiding them toward positive behaviours is a continuous process that may take time. But it can be gratifying when you see the results!

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