You have been
there and now your child is getting into the teenage years as well.
This time, it is not you who are on the line but your child. Are you
ready to guide her through these crucial years?
Teenage can be
defined as the most confusing years of a person’s life and that is
putting it lightly. There are many changes that can happen to your
child physically, mentally and socially. In these years, your child
is very fragile and you need to build her self-esteem and confidence.
She needs to believe in herself and her potential to overcome
challenges both academically and life in general. Otherwise, she will
develop a pessimistic view of the world and will become an introvert
as well as lose enthusiasm over school and other things she
previously enjoys.
The key in your
child’s growing up is you. So to help her enjoy her teenage years
rather than spending it hiding herself and being afraid of not being
accepted by her peers or what might other people think of her, here
are some tips that can help you make her feel secure and loved.
Listen
Listen closely and
really hard to what she is about to say. Every kid has different
teen experiences. When she is upset, do not tell them what to do.
Instead, ask her why she is upset. The key here is to let her know
you care enough to take time to understand what is bothering her.
Always Have the
Time to Talk
Make it a habit to
talk to her on regular basis. This will encourage her to share her
difficulties about school and peer pressure. You can also improve her
self confidence by giving her knowledge about serious issues such as
drugs, unprotected sex and other dangerous behaviours. Allow them to
ask questions. This will empower your teen to handle difficult
situations.
Encourage Your
Teen to Try New Things
If your teen
expresses interests in painting, learning a new language or joining a
ballet class or the soccer team at school, support her. Imagine
yourself gaining a new technique; your teen will also feel the same.
Learning and excelling in new things can help improve her self
confidence and how good she feels about herself.
Do Not Do Too
Much
Teenage years are
important for your teen to handle life herself. Do not try to be her
rescuer and solve her problems yourself. This will not help her.
Also, when she made a mistake tell her it is alright and let her know
how to fix it. If she has to make a decision, tell her what she wants
to do and show her the consequences of her choices so she can choose
wisely. She is smart and she can come up with a good decision. Just
be there and lend her some support.
The
best thing about living in a modern era is you can find professional
help when it comes to helping your child build self esteem and self
confidence. There are many companies today that provide child therapy and workshops that increase your teen’s confidence,
overcome their anxiety and improve their communication skills. They
even have professional and expert child
therapist to help your child. With your support coupled with one
on one coaching, you can help your teen become smart and confident.
