In a story, printed in advance, about compromises with teenagers, which appears on page E6 of today’s Living section, the first two tips did not appear in their entirety. They are reprinted correctly below.
1. LEARN TO LISTEN – Ask teenagers what they wish their parents did better, and the No. 1 answer is “Listen.” Give your child your full attention and assume you have something to learn. We often believe we already know what our child thinks, so we jump right in, dismissing their ideas or feelings. Or we interrupt at any hint of trouble: “What do you mean you have already seen R-rated movies?” When we keep our mouths closed and listen, it allows teens to think clearly and talk openly. Instead of listening to holes in their argument, ask questions for clarification.
2. WHY COMPROMISE? – By hearing your teen out and finding points you can agree on, you show that you recognize her need for more independence while remaining firmly in charge. Exerting influence rather than imposing control is the best way to keep your teen safe and impart your values. When your teen has a chance to give input and believes you are really listening, trust develops, family harmony increases, and “no” is often easier to accept.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
Success. Please wait for the page to reload. If the page does not reload within 5 seconds, please refresh the page.
Enter your email and password to access comments.
Hi, to comment on stories you must . This profile is in addition to your subscription and website login.
Already have a commenting profile? .
Invalid username/password.
Please check your email to confirm and complete your registration.
Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.
Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.