D A D B L O G S
A dad blog by a geek dad with two geeky kids.
Trust is one of the most difficult things to establish between parents and teenage kids. Its existence usually depends on the kind of relationship that exists between them. Trust is a two-way street. Most parents are looking for a trustworthy behavior in their kids before they could give their full trust in them. Create open communication lines. It is never too late to ask your child open-ended questions about trust. Let them define trust and how it can be broken. Teenagers are smart. You will be surprised to hear how mature their answers could be. In the case of broken trust in the family, have an open discussion on how it can be regained and how the family can be reunited. Reiterate the fact that trust is a two-way process which requires efforts from both ends. Explain the benefits of trust. Trust is beneficial to all members of the family. The family environment becomes peaceful when every family member is trusted by each other. No arguments will arise. Teenage kids can enjoy weekdays without curfew if their parents trust them - that they won't do anything that will ruin their lives. Parents, on the other hand, will be free of worries. They will also be able to focus on their work because they feel confident that their teenagers are safe and sound wherever they may be. Create a road map for success. Telling teenagers to “do the right thing” will make it difficult for them to understand how you want them to act in order for them to gain your trust. Give them specific goals and NOT instructions. Instructions tend to make teenagers rebellious. Give her a list of things she needs to do in order to change bad behavior and habits. Instead of starting these items with "Do not", start them with "I will". Be generous with positive reinforcement. Positive reinforcement can be expressed verbally. Say "Thank you!" or praise your teenager when he meets your expectations. He becomes motivated to be more trustworthy when he knows that his efforts are acknowledged and appreciated. This also sends the signal that you're an active participant of the entire 'trust' work.
Believe that you're a good parent and trust yourself. As a parent, you know what's best and right for your children. Set goals for yourself too. Make sure that these goals are targeted towards your transformation into a trustworthy parent. Make also that these goals are reasonable and achievable. Be patient and understand that trust grows slowly provided that good decisions are made. |
Hey there. My name is Jim. I'm a dad & I know some dad stuff & I like to write about them here. More about me.
Categories
All
Current ReadsCurrent Tunes |