Below are some tips on good communication with your teenager.

• Listening
• Don’t offer solution or advice unless asked

• Feed-back to make sure you have understood what your teenager is saying
  • Teach me/help me understand
  • Reflect on the feeling your teenager is communicating
  • Check that you have understood what your teenager would like you to hear
  • Repeat the message your are hearing
  • Think of your body language; how may it be interpreted. What are you seeing from your teenager’s body language
  • Use compliments
  • Be empathetic
  • Use open-ended questions (questions that can’t be answered with yes or not) in order to open up for a conversation rather than one-word replies

• 7 Caring habits
  • Supporting
  • Encouraging
  • Listening
  • Accepting
  • Respecting
  • Negotiating (allow your teenager his/her own space – this is normal)

• 7 Deadly habits
  • Criticising
  • Blaming
  • Complaining
  • Nagging
  • Threatening
  • Punishing
  • Rewarding to control