Do you want to know your tweens and teens better? Do these amazing things

You must have heard of teens. But
have you ever come across the word “tweenagers”? It’s an unofficial word used to describe young children between the ages of 8 and 13. They are the set of kids regarded as preteens while Teens are between the ages of 13 and 19. If you want to know more about your teens, read on. Tweens and teens are amazing and fun to be with. </span style=”font-weight: 400;”>However, the teen years can be pretty challenging.

85% of parents confess to finding it difficult to understand their tweens and teens. “It seems as if everything I say or do is targeted at fighting her,” one worried mum confessed concerning her daughter.

teens rebel

Teenagers are part of the most rebellious people on earth.
Psychologically,  teenage rebellion is described as teenagers’ efforts targeted at proving that they can be independent and they can do things on their own without their parents.­

Rebellious teenagers are often always causing problems, participating in law breaking activities, depressed, and engaging in risky behavior. 

The flood of hormones in their body system is also a big factor in teen behavior.

Disregarding family rules, defiant behavior and mood swings are different types of teenage behavior that can be surprising and bothersome to parents. The good thing about teenage rebellion and having to deal with your tweens and teens is that it is just a phase.

If you currently have a tween or teen child, you’ll find in this article practical things you can do, to help you stay relevant and involved in your child’s life. Yes, there are a lot of parents who are not involved in their children’s life. Although, they pay the bills, get to decide where they live and they know a little information about their children but they know nothing about the real happenings in the life of their children. 

Don’t be that parent!  Read on to find out ways you can be fully involved in your teenage child’s life. 

Every parent at some point will have to deal with tweens and teens.

These two sets of young people can be fun yet most times can be rebellious, disobedient, frustrating, and secretive.

How many times have you felt like your 15-year-old daughter was driving you crazy? How many times have you been mad at your 11-year-old son for being annoying?

 

<h2>SSigns that you have an abnormal Parent-child Relationship with your teens</h2>

You excessively text or call your teenager.

You invade your teenager’s privacy by going through their phone or social media accounts.

You criticize your teenager’s friends or activities.

You make assumptions about your teenager’s life and decisions.

You try to control your teenager’s life, trying to decide even your Teenager’s clothes and style.

You give unsolicited advice to your teenager. Disregarding your Teenager’s brain and mind.

You disregard your teenager’s feelings and opinions.

If you find yourself feeling like you need to monitor or control your tween and teen child’s behavior all the time, or you find yourself feeling like you are the only one who can understand them, you are making a big mistake. If you’re not careful you may send your children further away from you. Here are a few things that can help you understand your children better.

Understanding your teens especially and living with them peacefully can be a really herculean and overwhelming task. But of course, it is achievable. 

Understanding your Tweens and teens

Never make the mistake of thinking that your 8 year old is not old enough to be respected by you. A lot of parents see their tweens as just kids who should be forced to do what they deem fit. Truly your tween is still a child, but at this level, you need to be flexible as a parent, to ensure you don’t lose your child’s trust.

One way you can know your tweens better and win their trust and friendship is by respecting them and giving them the opportunity to make their decisions. You can guide them and show them good examples to help them in their decision making. Never underestimate your children or see them as incapable of thinking right. 

Most parents want to have a good relationship with their children and be able to understand them. Sometimes it can be difficult to do this. Sometimes it’s hard because your actions towards your child isn’t revealing that your child can trust you. 

For instance, how often do you ask your  10 year old daughter about her plans, her day, her thoughts on certain topics, or anything else that may be on her mind? 

By doing this, parents can get a better sense of how their children think, what their children know, what is going on in their child’s life and how they are feeling about things.
Carrying out Parent-child Relationship building activities such as visiting new places together, discussing a wide range of topics together, seeing movies together, playing games together, shopping together and so on, can help strengthen your relationship with your Tween

There are some other things you can do too to ensure you have a solid relationship with your Tween. To constantly understand your Tweenagers’ life and activities

• Ask them deliberate questions about their day and actions

Asking your  young child how his or her day went will send a signal to them that you love them and you’re interested in the little things that happen around them.

• As their mum or dad, take them out to their favorite places once in a while.

There’s no child who doesn’t like to have fun. If you’re the source of that fun, or the one responsible for it, you have them hooked.

• Let them choose their clothing and dressing styles.

Do not try to force your 10 year old to wear a  skirt if She wants a gown.

Understanding your teens’life

Teenagers are a bigger deal to handle. Unlike tweens who are pre-teens, teenagers often have a different opinion from that of their parents. The importance of parent-child relationships in a teenager’s life can not be overemphasized. Teenagers are at a stage in their lives where they are exploring their independence and trying to figure out who they are. This can sometimes result in conflict with their parents, who may have different expectations for their behavior.

Teenagers lying for instance is one of the many undesirable behaviours you may begin to notice in your teenager. Most children lie even from a really young age. This is to cover up their actions. No matter what the situation is, It is important for both teenagers and parents to try to understand each other’s perspective and to find ways to communicate effectively.

Most parents want to have a good relationship with their children and be able to understand them. Sometimes it can be difficult to do this. Sometimes it’s hard because your actions towards your child isn’t revealing that your child can trust you.

For instance, how often do you ask your  10 year old daughter about her plans, her day, her thoughts on certain topics, or anything else that may be on her mind?

By doing this, parents can get a better sense of how their children think, what their children know, what is going on in their child’s life and how they are feeling about things.
Carrying out Parent-child Relationship building activities such as visiting new places together, discussing a wide range of topics together, seeing movies together, playing games together, shopping together and so on, can help strengthen your relationship with your Tween.

To constantly understand your teens’ activities 

As parents to children between 8 and 20,  it is important to remember that these children are people too with a mind of their own and they know more than you think they know. They deserve to be treated with respect and also guided on how to respect others. It is also important for parents to trust their tweens and teens.

Trust is one of the best gifts you can give to your child and one of the best ways you can win your teen over.

You can show that you trust them by giving them some space to grow and learn on their own. Of course, this doesn’t mean that parents should just let their children do whatever they want, there still need to be rules and boundaries in place.

But, overall, believing your children is a good way to show that you respect and care for them. It is also a way to bring out the best in them. You must avoid everything that suggests that you are having an inappropriate Parent-child Relationship with your tweens and teens. Inappropriate in the sense that you’re not doing the right things. You can understand your teens’ activities by:

• Value your teenage child’s opinion

Teens need to feel like they are respected and that their opinions are valued. 

• Avoid too much criticism

Parents should try to avoid lecturing or being overly critical. Instead, they should encourage open communication and offer support.

• Avoid conflicts

 An unhealthy Parent-child Relationship is when a parent can’t have discussions or rapport with their children without conflict or argument. Parents and teens themselves must avoid conflicts and disagreements at all costs.

• Be patient

Guardians also need to be patient and understanding. They should remember that their teenager is going through a lot of changes and is still learning how to cope with them. It is normal to get in each other’s bad books but parents must be willing to quickly forgive. 

• Be observant

You can also observe your children closely. This can be done by taking note of how they act around other adults, other Teenagers and their friends.

Finally

Every parent seeks to know more about their children. Tweens are a bit easier to relate with. Your 8 year old still depends totally on you for a lot of things, this gives you an advantage. But teens all over the world can be more rebellious, believing that they are old enough to be left alone.

This makes it harder for parents to know what is really going on in their lives. Sadly, everyone wants to know what their children are doing at different times of the day even if these children don’t want them around. Teenagers think differently and at this stage of their lives they will prefer to be left alone most of the time.

You can become your Teenager’s friend, helping them make the right decisions if you agree to treat them like adults, letting them know how much you believe in them and still guiding them in their chosen endeavors.