Tuning in to a Tuned-Out Teen

Has your son or daughter become more monosyllabic as the teenage years set in, and far more interested in their phone than you? Good news: You can still break through with these 4 actions.

As Cara Natterson, a Los Angeles pediatrician and co-author of This Is So Awkward: Modern Puberty Explained told The New York Times, there are various ways to break through to teens:

• Limit your lectures: A monologue from you sounds like, “Blah, blah, blah.” Make sure you are actively listening, and model what it looks like to pay attention.
• Get curious if asked a question: Often a sudden question arises from something your teen saw, read, or heard. If it catches you off guard, calmly ask then to tell you more. Then answer, and keep it short. Let them process it; they can ask more later.  
• Stay in conversation: Just because you broach a touchy subject doesn't mean you can cross it off your list. Aim for a series of short conversations.
• Don't give TMI about your own teenage years: Sharing too much Information (TMI) can be cringe-inducing. And whatever you do, if they are having a drama or trauma, don’t tell them they will “laugh  about it one day.”

When is the last time you had a good talk with your teenaged child, and how did you manage it? To join the conversation, click on "comments" below. We hope this blog can be helpful to you over the holidays!

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