Watching your teen turn down the wrong path in life both upsets and frightens you. Your worry mounts as you endure disrespectful outbursts or watch his/her grades go down. You might know or suspect that your son or daughter is engaging in sex or using alcohol or drugs. Your attempts to stop the bad behaviour have only made the situation worse as your teen’s anger deepens. You know that you need to learn how to respond to teen attitude in a more effective manner. Your teen’s future well-being and your day-to-day sanity depend on restoring order and respect within your family.
How to Respond to Teen Attitude
You might wonder how to talk to your teen when anything you say erupts into a fight. You’re not the first person to struggle with a teen whose behaviour goes beyond normal adolescent defiance. As a result, you know that you need to do something different. Fortunately, strategies exist that can stop confrontations and place you in control. The team at Venture Academy knows how to achieve true communication and break through those bad attitudes. We provide behaviour treatment to troubled teens throughout Canada and recommend these approaches.
Keep Calm
The stakes are very high for you because you love your son or daughter. Your desire to protect your teen from making serious mistakes naturally provokes your emotions. An angry or disrespectful teen knows this about you and therefore says things that are hurtful or alarming. Essentially, you need to avoid taking the bait when a teen hopes to upset you and instead respond to teen attitude with composure and patience. As a result of staying calm and collected, you’ll keep your parental power. It’s helpful to remind yourself that you are the adult, and adults don’t descend into screaming matches.
In order to set an example as someone who doesn’t give in to anger, you’ll need to be mindful of your emotions. Your anger and fear are valid but cannot take over the situation. Counting to 10, taking a walk, or breathing deeply are common yet effective methods for calming yourself down.
No Lecturing
You’ve probably already lectured your teen at length about their attitude and seen no results because your son or daughter refused to listen. Although you truly want to warn your teen about the consequences of a bad attitude or destructive teen behaviour, you should listen instead. You can do this by being available without turning everything into a conflict. When you’re with your teen, don’t immediately start asking questions or criticizing. Give your teen a chance to speak.
Schedule Regular Together Time
A weekly activity between you and your teen will help you learn how to talk to your teen casually. Pick an activity like grocery shopping, walking the dog, or going to an exercise class. Creating a confrontation-free space is key in learning how to talk to your teen. No one’s problems will be at the centre of the activity. You’ll just get to be two family members doing something. The regular togetherness creates an opportunity for your teen to feel accepted instead of judged. Gradually, your teen’s attitude might improve.
Professional Guidance for Teen Attitude Problems
Parenting presents you with many challenges, and sometimes asking for help with a difficult teen makes the most sense. Involving an aunt, uncle, coach, or grandparent might help you get through to your teen, as well. Your son or daughter could benefit from the outside perspective of another adult. Alternatively, a 30-day assessment and intervention at Venture Academy could help your teen make better choices. You don’t have to let your teen’s future unravel due to a poor attitude, anger, or substance abuse. Our compassionate professionals have developed a behaviour counselling plan that can offer you and your teen hope.
Contact Venture Academy online or call 866.762.2211 and start the recovery process today.
