Teenagers Growing Up With Family And Friends

Teenagers Growing Up With Family And Friends

• Teenagers develop new ways of thinking about life. Their friends are very important and they think more about what other people do and say. They may change their dress, speech and behaviour while working out who they are. They often criticise everything parents say or believe in.
• Teenagers can be helped during this time by:
  • being encouraged to feel good about themselves
  • having their confidence built by being with family, friends and other adults
  • starting each day positively
  • sharing hugs, kisses, back rubs, a gentle touch on the arm or other small positive contacts which may be very brief
  • parents and teenagers keeping their sense of humour
  • being listened to and listening in a caring and respectful way
  • their friends being welcome at their home
  • siblings and parents doing things together like taking a walk, cooking, gardening or driving in the car
  • family members taking opportunities to talk openly.
• Some teenagers find it difficult to make friends.
• Shy children can appear to be unfriendly, so their peers keep away. Some children are loners and are happy on their own.
• Teenagers are often judgemental and frequently won't tolerate those who are different, perhaps quiet or not interested in sports.
• Help your child understand it doesn't matter if they aren't popular. Some children are happier with adults and will fit in when they're grown up, which is for most of their life.
• Some families like to keep to themselves, or they may be isolated, so their children may not have the social skills to make friends.

Parenting tips & parenting articles copyright & courtesy
Department for Community Devlp, Australia.

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