Checklist for parents: How to maintain contact with a teenager?

Teenagers’ relationships with their parents and other family members often involve difficulties and misunderstandings. Often, instead of sharing personal matters with their parents, teenagers prefer to tell their friends about their problems. Because of this, teenagers are becoming more and more distant from their parents, and misunderstandings between them are only increasing.

However, so that this does not happen and you can get closer to your teenage child, learn to understand his/her conditions and, as a result, not lose trust – our Pleso partners have prepared a top list of safe questions with which you can start a conversation and better understand your teenager.

So questions about relationships with peers and school:

• Are you satisfied with the communication with your friends?
• What do you like and dislike about school?
• What good happened today? Has something bad happened?
• How do you cope with your responsibilities at school? Are you getting enough rest?
• Who do you have the best contact with now? Who do you consider your best friend? What is the atmosphere in your group/class?

Questions about hobbies/interests:

• What music have you been listening to the most lately? Can you play it for me?
• What programs or series do you watch?
• Are there things you would like to do but don’t do for some reason? Can I help motivate you or support you in achieving them?
• What would you do if you were an adult now?
• What books have you read recently that charmed you?
• Do you have any ideas for entertainment? I will be happy to implement them together with you

Questions about family, your differences and similarities:

• What do you think my generation doesn’t understand about your generation? What are we different?
• Do you think we treat you and your siblings equally, or do you feel confident?
• kind of injustice?
• Is there anything you would like to know about me? You can ask me about it now
• What irritates you about me, other family members, or maybe yourself? Is there anything you like?
• What would you change about our home or family rules?

Personal questions:

• What can I do to make you feel more supported by me?
• Are you trying to lose or gain weight right now? Can I help you with this?
• Have you had any interesting dreams lately? Do you get enough sleep when you dream about something?
• fascinating?
• What childhood memory do you remember best? Is it happy or sad?
• What are you dreaming about at this moment?

Remember, however, that establishing contact with a teenager takes time, patience and effort. Only this way you will be able to build a strong and trusting relationship with your child, and he will be able to experience such an important period of his life without stress!