HAPPY PARENTING

Teenagers deal with a heady mix of excitement, awkwardness, self-doubt and self-
learning as they transition from being children to young adults. Teens have always
had to deal with depression, loneliness and self-rejection, and girls are even more
prone to depression and feelings of lack or self-doubt. The complexities of social
media make this naturally challenging time even more complex, and today’s
teenagers are growing up with even more access to information and influencers
than we ever dreamed of, which many argue has only increased the pressures
around body image, capabilities and likeability.

As a parent you can guide your child through these turbulent times by helping to
build the confidence and self-esteem that will get them through the rough patches
now so they can thrive later through the adulthood years.

1. Inspire Them. Be the person you hope your child will be. Show them what
confidence and kindness looks like in your daily actions.  
2. Open Up. Talk about your own embarrassing teen moments. A little humility
can go a long way in making them feel less self-conscious. Try and connect
with them
3. Relate as Peers. Speak to your teens like they’re adults because, really,
they are. When they think they know everything, it can be easy to lose your
cool and talk down to them.
4. Praise Actions, not Looks. Compliment what they do rather than traits they
were born with. Confidence built on looks, for instance, has a shaky
foundation and will not last that long.
5. Learn from Them – Literally. Let them teach you something. It shows that
you trust them and also respect that they have unique experiences they can
share. Maybe Instagram .
6. Develop Discourse. Teach your teen to argue effectively. Knowing how to
build a case helps them understand logic and strengthens confidence.They
learn to engage in a rational discourse.
7. Broaden Horizons. Expose them to new ideas and environments. Try
volunteering with them at a shelter or attending a professional event
together.
8. Foster Emotional Intelligence. Help them understand the emotions they
are feeling by putting them into words. Understanding what they are feeling,
and why, will help them to manage their emotions productively  – an
invaluable life skill.
9. Encourage Safe Experiments. Purple hair may not be your thing, but
allowing your child to express themselves in ways that do not harm them
builds their sense of agency and self-control, and they will learn from the
experience.
10.Be Honest, but Kind. Give them direct, constructive feedback – and
compliment them when they demonstrate the behavior you want to foster in
them.
11.Discourage Perfectionism. Apart from the fact that perfectionism can
increase stress and lead to depression , your child should understand that
everyone makes mistakes, and that making mistakes is okay – especially
when you learn from them.
12.Find Teachable Moments. When your child does make a mistake, help
them learn from it by understanding what led to that situation and the steps
they can take to help avoid it in the future.
13.Embrace Awkwardness. Don’t be afraid to have those awkward
conversations. The more directly you can tackle uncomfortable topics with
your teen, whether it is about their body, their values, their friends – you
name it – the better they will be at handling those issues too.
14.Teaching ‘No’. Teach your teen assertiveness. “No” is a powerful, important
word, and knowing how to stand up for themselves gives them confidence.
15.Be the Parent. Remember that parenthood still trumps friendship. Having a
close relationship with your young adult is amazing, but at the end of the
day, you’re the only person who can rightfully come in and tell them when
they’ve done wrong. And that’s a really important job to help them grow.