As they get older and start dealing with new people, guiding teenagers through relationships, platonic, romantic and professional, becomes more important than ever. With your advice, your teen will be more equipped in finding a good friend. They’ll also be ahead of the game when they wish to find a good mate so they can stay out of negative situations. And, frankly, when they understand what positive relationships should look and feel like, these skills translate into the workplace, too! If they can avoid toxic people at work, it makes life a lot calmer and productive.
Guiding Teenagers through Relationships
It may not always be easy to sit down with your teen and talk about potentially sensitive subjects, but it’s a part of parenting. To make it a smoother process, it’s our hope this guide helps increase your comfort level so you can start important conversations about adult relationships.
Why You Need To Step In
Guiding teenagers through relationships with friends, partners, co-workers, and more is necessary because if you don’t get involved, your son or daughter may end up in negative situations.
Dangers Of Social Media
For instance, if you leave your teens alone, they could spend more time on social media, and that’s not always for the best. Social media can affect your teen’s body image in many ways.
While there are fitness coaches and experts who can provide good advice, social media is often connected with weight shaming and body negativity. When people aren’t talking face to face, it can be easier for them to be cruel. Websites like Facebook and Instagram can also promote unreasonable standards due to filters and creative editing. If you’re not there to be a mediator, your teens could get all of their life lessons off of social media, and it could cause trouble when they try to have a meaningful relationship with another.
Leaving Harmful Relationships
Another reason why you should have frequent conversations with your teen, helping and guiding teenagers through relationships, is so they will know when they’re in a harmful relationship. Toxic relationships can take many forms. They can involve physical violence, controlling behaviors, a partner who shows no respect, and more. Leaving these negative relationships and finding something good can help quell your teen’s anxiety and make them happier overall. However, you can’t help if you’re not talking to your teen in the first place.
Discussing The Birds And Bees
There are many essential conversations to have with your teenager, and at a certain point, one of them may involve talking about sex. The discussion may not always be comfortable, but it’s important. Having it could make them more likely to use protection when they do get into a physical relationship.
Learn How To Communicate With Your Teens
Successfully guiding teenagers through relationships will take work and a bit of tact. The last thing you want to do during important conversations is go in there, be a dictator, and do all the talking. That could scare your teen away in the future. Instead, go in ready to actively listen. Ask how their relationship is going, and then let them talk. Once they’re done, respond with a meaningful answer and go from there.
You want to show that you’re someone who can be trusted. Your child may say something you don’t want to hear. If you get angry and start yelling, your teen may clam up. Instead, validate their feelings to an extent and just be there for them.
Spending time with your teen is the best way to have open, flowing conversations. Have dinner as a family and see what topics come up. You can also spend time with your teen outside the house by walking through the park or another activity your teen enjoys. Don’t be pushy. Just be there, and you’ll be amazed at the topics that come up.
The relationship issue that your teen brings up may be about the fact that they’re afraid to speak to new people. If so, you can help build up their self-confidence by practicing conversations with them at home. Then, let them know that it’s okay if their conversations don’t go as planned and praise them for trying.
Teach Teens How To Maintain Healthy Relationships
Though you should actively listen during these conversations, when the time is right, feel free to add your own two cents about building healthier relationships.
Maintaining Healthy Friendships
Tell your kids that good friends will always be there through thick and thin, so these are the relationships they should continue to work on over time. Teach your teens the importance of showing mutual respect for their friends by supporting them and asking them how they’re feeling when it seems like they’re feeling down. Mutual respect also means respecting each other’s boundaries. If a friend says they don’t want to talk about a subject, give them time and be there when they come around.
Embracing Positive Romantic Relationships
Advise your teen that solid communication is one of the most important attributes of a positive romantic relationship. It’s essential that they talk about their feelings with their mate so they know they’re both on the same page and so they can understand when their partner has needs. With that said, they don’t need to necessarily spend every waking moment together. It’s good to have that love but to also have their own hobbies.
Most importantly, let them know they don’t need to rush into anything. If they’re not ready for a romantic relationship yet, that’s okay. They need to be comfortable with themselves and where they are before they can confidently pursue someone else.
Guiding your teenagers through friendships and other types of relationships is essential for preparing them for life outside of the house. Talk to your teens when they’re ready, and you’ll also improve your parent-child relationship along the way.
About the Writer: Miles is an independent writer with a background in business and a passion for tech, psychology, news, and simply helping people live happy and fulfilled lives. He has lived and traveled all over the United States and continues to expand his awareness and experiences. When he is not writing, he is most likely mountain biking or kicking back with a cup of tea.
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