Children's Day 2017: Things to talk about with your teenage kid

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No matter how much you grow up, you'll always remain a child for your parent. Our parents are our role models and it is from them that we pick up many habits.

So this Children's Day, here are a few things that every parent must talk about with their kids. It will not only facilitate a stronger bond but will also help your teenage baby to ferry across the hurdles of life. 

1) Refining social interacting skills.

Adolescence is the first stage where every child faces the outside world. The child is thrown into a situation where he has to socially interact in groups or with the opposite sex and non-family members which is not the case before that. As a parent, you must teach your child how he/she can build healthy social relationships. 

2) Finding a partner/love.

Movies, books, cartoons have always given a rosy picture by developing a notion such as the ‘perfect’ life partner. By not entirely breaking their bubble, it is important that you must make them aware of the reality. Let them know what traits to look out for before falling for someone.

3) Hormonal changes/ Puberty

Puberty, a transition from childhood to adulthood can hit your child with different emotions. To a 13-year-old, going through hormonal changes can be strenuous. At such times you must not get embarrassed to talk about body parts and their curiosity about sex that they may have. Apart from the hormonal changes, puberty also affects the attitude and behaviour of the child. Giving wise guidance on correct time is vital as this can determine how your child will be as an adult.

4) Listening to them patiently without interrupting

As a parent, having an attitude of ‘know-it-all’ can be a deterrence to the bond between you and the child. Instead of always reminding them that you are wiser and more experienced than them, you ought to listen patiently to what your child has to say and use your wisdom for parental advice. 

5) It’s ok to be wrong and reckless

At this particular stage, your child is bound to commit mistakes, fall into traps, get misled, cheated and deceived. Being a parent, scolding severely them for their decisions and actions can be harmful as this can scar them for life. And next time if a problematic situation arises, you might be the last one to know. So it's better to teach your teenage kids that it is ok to be wrong sometimes, they just need to confide in you and reveal the truth. Honesty is prime and needs to be taught at this tender age. 

6) Money management

Money is a powerful tool today and it is time you teach your child its value. Apart from valuing money, basic money management concepts like budgeting, filling a chequebook, depositing money, paying bills online are the monetary lessons you can impart to your child.    

7) Give them an insight into addiction

Talk to them about drugs, alcohol, smoking and other such things that they will encounter due to the peer pressure or inquisitiveness. Apart from the ‘societal’ addictions, there are other obsessive things like internet, pills, etc that your child may embrace when they face a quandary.

8)Tell them more about the good side of growing up.

Warning and overprotecting them about the bad things, people, and situations while they are growing up may give them a negative perception of the society as a whole. Developing a trait of finding pessimism in every situation may turn out to be disastrous for the child and he/she may soon get fed up with life. And follows the anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts. Instead, instill hope, give them positive examples and teach them how to make the best out of any given situation.

It is not possible to teach your child everything. But you can surely give them fundamental lessons that they could use to make wise decisions and minimise their damage at physical, emotional and social level.