Are you a parent of an early adolescent? If you are one, you probably know how challenging it can be to stay close to them during these transitional years. They might be right next to you, yet feel emotionally miles away. The good news is, maintaining a strong connection is absolutely doable with the right mix of empathy, patience, and intentional actions. In this article, we’re sharing some practical tips to help you stay connected with your young teens!
- Be Available
As we said, your young teens might be physically around you, but feel distant sometimes. As they reached this phase, they started to do everything on their own and might be too shy to be around you. All you have to do is stay around, even if it seems like they don’t need you, because your presence still gives them a sense of security that they actually need. - Keep the Conversations Flowing
During this stage of life, your child is going through a lot emotionally, socially, and physically. Keeping your conversations flowing with them is important because a connection comes from communication. Try to ask open-ended questions that lead to a longer conversation. But keep in mind that they value being heard without immediate judgment, so you need to listen more than you talk! - Join Their World
Being early adolescents means they are exploring many things to find out what they are interested in. Show your genuine interest in their hobbies, favorite music, shows, or games, and try doing those with them, even if it means awkwardly learning a dance trend or gaming for a bit! Who wouldn’t know that it might be your ritual to have a bonding time with them, right?
We hope these tips are useful for you to keep connected with your early teens, Panmates!