News
Points for Parents at Weald of Kent Grammar School: Communicating With Your Teen
25 November 2010
On Thursday 25th November, AlterEgo's Suzannah Wallace gave a talk to parents at Weald of Kent School in Tonbridge on Communicating with Your Teen.
Here is a summary of the main points:
To get someone to do something, it needs to be their goal. Make sure you don't tell someone what to do but talk to them so that they want to do it themselves.
Listen up! You have 2 ears and 1 mouth, use them in proportion. Remember, it's not always about you...ask questions as responses in order to find out more rather than always feeling you have to comment.
Banish the word, "Why"? It creates a defensive response.
Be impartial and non-judgemental, whatever you're told. It will help your child feel they can trust you.
You cannot not communicate. You are communicating through your body language and your tone of voice as well as the words you use. Be aware of what you are communicating.
The meaning of your communication is the response you get. If you're not getting the response you want from your child, perhaps you need to change the way you're communicating?
Every behaviour has a positive intention. Remember that when your child does something you don't like.
If you carry on doing the same thing, you will get the same result.
Praise your child...they are criticised a lot in their teenage years and this can help to decrease their confidence. Confident young people have more positive futures ahead of them. Let them know when they've done well.
What is your child's pre-dominant sense? Talk to them using their language.
Information is power. Talk to them about issues that affect them. If you find that hard, talk to them about related issues in the news and in the media and get them to think about these.
Taking responsibility for life is empowering. Get your child to take responsibility for their life so that they can make positive decision in their future.
To get in touch with AlterEgo, please email us here or call 0845 050 7922.