3 Tips For Raising Teenagers

Being a parent is a tough job.  Especially when you factor in having to do it on top of all of our other obligations in life.  When you pile paying bills on top of having to go to work or whatever other things life throws at us plus being responsible for the lives of little ones, it can be a huge task to take on.  

Three teenagers sitting on floor using technology

If you thought this wasn’t already enough to think about, you can now start to imagine the teen years that everyone talks about.  The age of rebellion, testing out boundaries, and bodies flooding with new hormones that make their emotions go all over the place.  Raising teenagers, however, doesn’t have to be as scary as we make it out to be however.  It can be a perfectly fine experience if you take the right steps as you see them through their final phase to adulthood.  

Here are some of the best tips for making it through the teen years.

Give Them Responsibilities

Teenagers will be better equipped for the adult life just around the corner for them if you give them responsibilities to do around the house.  If they never know what it is like to have to clean their own rooms, do their own laundry, or mow the lawn, they will be in for some rude awakenings when they suddenly have to do it all as an adult.

Try to set up a routine where there have a something to contribute to around the household.  This can be anything from cleaning up the dishes after dinner to making their beds.  It is important to give them a role in which they play in the greater whole.  This will help them transition easier into adult life which involves being a team player once they have a job.

Encourage Honesty

One of the biggest challenges of being a teenager is having to deal with knowing that they are no longer surrounded by innocent children. High school involves a variety of temptations that will come their way and make them have to make the decision of giving into what they are offered or to make the wise decision of turning it down.

In order to give them the proper tools to be able to turn down temptation, you have to encourage them, to be honest with you and let them know that it is ok, to be honest.  

Spend Time Together

One of the best things that you can do for your relationship with your teenager is to spend time together to strengthen your relationship.  When your relationship is strong then you will have less of a chance of them seeking outside sources to fulfill any voids.