Teen Discipline: Treat Your Teenager Right

When a child moves from the tween to the teen phase, the parenting methods need to evolve as well and most likely will have to undergo a sea change – a transformation that can be jarring to you. 

You need to be a guide rather than a parent at this stage. There are times when you need to intervene firmly when a threat to safety arises. 

It is also imperative that teens are slowly eased into making their own decisions and dealing with the effects of those decisions. Be sure to support them with all the empathy possible.

Self-discipline is essential in the teen years, as it will come to their aid when they appear to lose their way at this crucial juncture of their lives. The work for parents is cut out – to guide your teenagers towards being the best version of themselves. 

Each parent has an individual approach to discipline. Some may attempt to exercise total control, while others place complete faith in their children while being there for them when needed.

Read on for a few tips on disciplining the teenagers in your home without stepping on their toes and coping with the inevitable challenges you will face. You can also read up on how to bring out the best in your teenager.

Disciplining Your Teen the Right Way: 

A do-as-you-are-told approach may have worked when they were younger, but teaching teenagers good behaviour will need a different approach.

1. Explain the Need for Rules

The need to lay down rules comes from a genuine concern for your children. Your teen needs to know that the rules are there for guidance. Teens are more likely to follow the rules if they understand why they are required. 

• Engage With Your Teen Calmly

When teenagers feel aggravated due to an unpleasant incident during their day, they are likely to behave unreasonably at home. In this situation, your guidebook on discipline will cease to be helpful.

Losing your temper will create an unpleasant situation that won’t help to discipline your teenager.  Instead, walk away for the moment and return when both of you are calm.

• Communicate Effectively 

When the teen years come around, most clam up and interact less with their parents, and their peers take the place of their parents as confidantes. In this scenario, it would do well to be the kind of parent in whom children voluntarily confide. To ensure this, effective communication by the caregiver is necessary. 

• Acknowledge That Mistakes Happen

Adolescents are becoming aware of the world beyond the protected environs of their homes. Naturally, they will take decisions that will make them falter and stumble. Nevertheless, with your support their decision-making skills are sure to improve. 

Learning life skills now is better than when they become adults with additional responsibilities on their shoulders. The parent must know when to aid and when to stay out of the way and let life teach its little lessons.

Lastly, recall your teen years and display empathy towards your teen. The teen years are an emotional roller coaster with hormonal changes that make it a confusing time for teenagers. Teen years are replete with mood swings and demands for greater independence.  

Practising positive discipline is a highly effective way to improve your relationship with the teen, as it works well for toddlers and teens alike.

Approach this tumultuous phase with a firm yet guiding hand. This will help both of you emerge unscathed on the other side. Be sure to nurture and guide them with all the patience you can muster and be as accommodating as you can.