Children's Day: Eight things parents can teach teenage kids

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A child always remains a child for his/her parent. As a parent, you are a role model and the first learning source for your child. On the occasion of children’s day, here are few things every parent must talk about openly or teach to develop a stronger bond with their adolescent kids.

1) Refining social interacting skills.

Adolescence is the first stage where every child has to encounter the outside world. The child is now thrown into a situation where he has to socially interact in groups or with the opposite sex and non-family members which otherwise was not the case until now. As a parent, you must teach your child the basic ways he/she can develop to maintain social relationships. 

2) Finding a partner/love.

Movies, books, cartoons have always given a rosy picture by developing a notion such as a ‘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 at any given time. 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 encounter. Apart from the hormonal changes, puberty also affects attitudes and behaviour of the child. Giving wise guidance 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 mislead, 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 a problematic situation arises, you will be the last one to know. 

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 check book, depositing money, paying bills online are the monetary lessons you can impart to your child.    

7) Give them an insight on 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 may face a quandary.

8)Tell them more about goodness 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 about 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 of life. And follows the anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts. Instead instill hope, give them positive examples and teach them to take 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 levels