Do you need help strengthening your relationship with your preteen? Here are 5 simple but effective strategies you can use every day to communicate and connect better with your kids. You can even modify these tips for other ages. Read on to learn more!
Parenting is something that you have to learn to master while in the midst of the work! Every stage brings new excitement and new challenges. Since I have 3 kids under 5, I don’t have much experience with preteens yet.
But I am really excited today to share these easy tips from my new blogging friend Danielle, a single mother of TWO preteens! Her tips below are sure to inspire you, they really spoke to me (especially number 5!!)
5 Ways to Strengthen Your Relationship With Your Preteen
Parenting a preteen (or teen) isn’t easy! They’re at an age where they’re starting to pull away and become more independent. You might be feeling like you’re losing your connection with them.
Although we’ve all heard exaggerated stories about rowdy, impolite teenagers, they are frequently exaggerated. In reality, the majority of families survive their teens without suffering long-term damage. And, many families find that their bonds with their teens are actually stronger than they were during the early years.
Over the next several years, I’ll be raising two teenagers!
Don’t worry, though; there are strategies to maintain a strong emotional link with your adolescent children as they become teens.
So in order to prepare for the inevitable, I have read and collected the best advice from experts on behavioral trends and parental techniques (those who, you know, actually have spent countless hours with children on a daily basis).
Here are 5 tips from trusted experts to help improve your relationship with your preteen:
1. Make time for one-on-one activities together.
Even as they grow more independent, your children still need quality time with just you. So make sure to plan regular outings or activities that the two of you can do together. This is a great way to stay connected and build a strong bond with your kids.
It’s also important to take an active interest in what they’re doing – learn about their interests and hobbies so that you can have lively conversations with them about things they care about.
Showing genuine concern like this will let them know how much you love them while giving both of you common ground to connect on deeper levels.
2. Keep the lines of communication open.
As your child grows up and starts to pull away, it is crucial to keep the communication lines open. Make sure they know that you are always there for them by encouraging them to come to you about anything and everything, no matter how big or small the problem may be.
Talk with your teenager often; sometimes they need an outlet to tell someone things that they don’t feel comfortable discussing with their friends. While it’s essential to offer advice, remember that sometimes all your teen needs is a sympathetic ear.
3. Be a good role model.
As a parent, you are the most influential role model in your child’s life. You want your child to grow up to be trustworthy, responsible, honest, resilient, and good-hearted. Make sure you’re living those values in your own life.
Also while walking it out with them, talk about what it means to be a decent person by being kind, honest, and hardworking yourself. Show them how to follow an example by modeling kindness honesty and hard work for themselves. Set a good example for them to follow by demonstrating integrity and hard work on a daily basis.
4. Be patient and understanding.
We were all teenagers once. Remember how frustrating and confusing all the changes were that we had to go through? Take the time to listen to your teen and try to understand their perspective.
It provides them with an opportunity for comfort. More often than not, you will be able to relate to what they’re going through due to experiencing it yourself. As hard as it may be sometimes, don’t forget that this is only a phase in their lives – everything will eventually get better!
5. Don’t take it personally.
When your child starts to pull away, it’s easy to take it personally. But it’s important to remember that this is a natural stage of development and not a reflection on you or your parenting. Just keep doing the best you can and know that things will eventually balance out.
Parenting a preteen or teenager isn’t easy, but it can be one of the most rewarding experiences of your life if you do it right. Take some time to strengthen your relationship with your child now, and lay the foundation for a lifetime of love and friendship.
With these tips from trusted experts, you’ll be well on your way to strengthening your bond with your preteen in no time!
About the Author
Danielle French is a lifestyle mom blogger and freelance content writer. She’s also an educator, and most importantly – a single mom to two preteens. She is very passionate about midlife motherhood, divorce, co-parenting and freelance topics. On her blog Coffee Lip Gloss and Love, she loves sharing meaningful content that helps and inspires midlife women seeking transition and transpiration.
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