If you are a parent reading this post, do you often wonder how you can have a better relationship with your child by using better communication skills? As a fellow parent, I can certainly identify with the angst and disappointment you encounter whenever communication between you and your child, especially those in the tween or teenage years, breaks down and both of you leave the conversation fuming in anger.

Or perhaps, you are a teenager reading this post and you are wondering if you will ever have a decent conversation with your parents before you fly into a rage and storm off into your room. Psst…I was once a teenager just like you and I can certainly relate to how you feel.

Since effective communication is key to a strong family unit, it is imperative that parents and their children identify the weaknesses in their communication with one another. This will help them to work together to convey their thoughts and opinions to one another effectively and respectfully.

Here are some effective communication strategies for parents and teenagers that I find useful and I certainly hope that our readers will find just as useful and effective.

Effective Strategies for Parents:

Listen actively: When talking with your teenager, make sure you are actively listening to what they are saying. Try to understand their point of view and respond to what they have said to show you are engaged in the conversation.

Be respectful: Treat your teenager with respect and show them that you value their opinions, even if you don’t agree with them. This will help build trust and open lines of communication.

Create a safe space: Make sure your teenagers know that they can come to you with any issue or problem without fear of judgment or punishment. Let them know that you are there to support them, no matter what.

Set aside time for communication: Make time to talk to your teenager every day, even if it’s just for a few minutes. This will show them that you are interested in their life and help build a strong relationship.

Be honest: Be open and honest with your teenager, even if the conversation is difficult. This will help them learn to trust you and be more open with you in return.

Effective Strategies for Teenagers:

Practice active listening: When your parent is speaking to you, make sure you are actively listening to what they are saying. This means giving them your full attention and showing them that you are engaged in the conversation. You can do this by maintaining eye contact with your parents. Adopt a positive posture, for example, by not folding your arms and no rolling your eyes at your parents!

Be respectful: Treat your parent with respect and show them that you value their opinions, even if you don’t agree with them. This will help build trust and open lines of communication.

Express your thoughts and feelings: Share your thoughts and feelings with your parents, even if they may be difficult to express. This will help them understand your perspective and build a stronger relationship. They would really love to hear from you!

Choose the right time and place: Choose a time and place where both you and your parents are calm and not distracted. Politely inform your parents that you are unable to speak to them if you are tired. Be respectful. This will make it easier to communicate effectively and avoid misunderstandings.

Be honest: Be open and honest with your parent, even if the conversation is difficult. They are your parents and they know you very well. When you are honest with your struggles with them, they will know how to help you as best as they can.

I will be sharing more effective communication strategies for both parents and teenagers in the next post!