Teenagers have it tough. They worry about their physical appearance, their friendships, their school performance, social media, sports, not letting their family down, relationships and much, much more.
In your role as a parent, you want to ensure that your child achieves the greatest level of success possible, particularly in terms of their self-image and self-worth. Perhaps most importantly, you want your child to develop into a self-assured and responsible adult who excels in all aspects of her or his or her development. However, this is not always an easy task. Many teenagers struggle to be accepted, both by the rest of the world and by their own minds. Parents can play an extremely essential part in assisting their teens in developing a sense of self. Here are seven strategies to encourage these characteristics in your adolescent:
1. Take time to be supportive and help them to be independent.
Consider listening to your child’s perspective on any conflicts he or she may be experiencing at school, with a friend, or with a team member. Even if you believe your child is at fault, refrain from passing judgment.
In our eyes, a quarrel may seem insignificant and insignificant; yet, to a hormonal teenager, it could be a major source of contention in their lives. Get into the practice of encouraging and supporting your child through both good and difficult times, and you will be creating a strong basis for open communication when the time comes for more significant challenges. In the meantime, keep reminding your teen that you are always available to listen and assist him or her in whatever way you are capable of doing so. Having a parent to lean on who loves and accepts them can go a long way toward boosting their self-confidence over time.
However, teaching your kid how to think through issues, brainstorm solutions, and problem solve effectively can all help to boost his or her confidence.
If you do not want to solve all of your teen’s problems for him or her, involve them in the process instead. Instead of being a director, consider becoming a cheerleader. Keep an open mind while they try to figure out where things went wrong, and then support your teen’s strategy for moving forward on a positive path.
2. Listen to them and try to avoid conflict.
Your child is growing into an independent and responsible young adult with their own point of view and preferences, which can lead to disagreements with you. You should anticipate disagreeing on issues such as what your child wears, what they do with their time, and whether or not they adhere to your cultural norms, among other things.
It is how you manage these disagreements that is important. First of all, listen to your teenager, make eye contact and show respect to their thoughts and opinions, even if you disagree. Talk to them about their thoughts and see if you can come to a compromise, if appropriate. If you feel like you can’t keep your temper, take a deep breath and walk away from the situation, and revisit when you feel calmer.
3. Avoid power struggles – Empathize with their desire to be in control
As children get older, almost all of them become increasingly hostile to parental authority and authoritative When children discover that defiance is an effective strategy for achieving their goals, their desire to be rebellious will grow stronger and stronger over time.
Parents should instill in their children the notion that with autonomy comes responsibility and accountability. Despite the fact that children aspire to increased independence and the ability to make more decisions, they should not be let to debate in an aggressive, unpleasant, or arrogant manner.
4. Encourage them to engage in physical activity
Every component of the body, including the mind, benefits from regular exercise. Exercising stimulates the production of substances in the body that might make a person feel good. Teenagers who engage in physical activity may sleep better at night. It can also be beneficial for certain persons who are suffering from mild depression and low self-esteem. Furthermore, exercise can provide individuals with a genuine sense of accomplishment and pleasure in having accomplished a goal.
5. Avoid negative comparisons and help them find role models.
Many parents compare their children to other youngsters in the hopes of inspiring them to achieve greater success. Comparing a child with other children, on the other hand, might have the opposite impact, and the youngster who is being compared may feel depressed as a result of the damage done to their self-esteem. Competing with others can encourage children to do and be good things, but encouraging them to strive to be better than their peers can be detrimental at times. A deep-seated emotional injury is left behind, which is difficult to heal, and it can lead to hostility, antagonism, and resentment.
6. Help them find what they are good at and focus on their strengths
In your conversations with your children, keep in mind a concept called catching your children doing something correctly right As opposed to immediately focusing on what you perceive to be incorrect, concentrate on something they are doing well instead.
When children hear that one of their character qualities has been observed and acknowledged by others, it encourages them to put that attribute into practice even more. It also helps kids gain more self-confidence, which will enable them to perform better in all aspects of their lives.
7. Care for yourself
Because a strong relationship is the foundation of a functioning family, it might be beneficial to be selfish from time to time and concentrate on the well-being of yourself and each other.
It is critical for children to receive what they desire and require from their families that their parents take care of their own needs as well. Parents frequently devote all of their time to caring for their children and other members of the family, leaving themselves to last. This, on the other hand, might have the opposite effect of being giving and helpful and become counterproductive. When you believe that no one is looking out for you, it can be difficult and hard to provide for other people’s needs.
Teen Counseling in the Denver Area
If this doesn’t work, we can help you and your teen to feel happier, and able to take on the challenges of the world. We invite you to call us at 720-551-4553 for a free 20-minute phone consultation with an anxiety specialist. You can also learn more about our Teen Counseling Services by clicking here.
Self Care Impact Counseling envisions a new age of counseling for adolescents that makes a REAL difference with core values of GROWTH | BALANCE | COMPASSION | INNER HARMONY.