Recap of Tweens and Communications Discussion
What a great giveaway! Being that I'm a mom of two teenagers daughters, ages 19 and 15, I could probably…
Last week I participated in the Unilever Tween Academy at The MotherHood. The discussion was about Tweens and Communications with parenting expert Rosalind Wiseman, author of the New York Times bestseller Queen Bees and Wannabes. Sponsored by Unilever & Don’t Fret The Sweat.
Tweens and Communications Recap
The discussion was really interesting and everyone had awesome ideas on Tweens and Communication. Keeping the lines of communication open is something that is very important to me when dealing with my kids. Here are some of the tips for keeping those lines open:
Focus on listening. Often children confide in their parents to vent, not to get advice. Unless there is immediate physical danger, when your child tells you something, really listen. Many children are reluctant to share problems with their parents because they’re worried their parents will “freak out.”
Start with the small stuff. If you can talk to your kids at the start of puberty about growth spurts, body odor and deodorant, they will come to you later for bigger life moments and issues. Supporting research shows that confidence and self-esteem begins to decline as tweens transition to their teenage years (age 13-17), underscoring the importance of continual communication.
Thank them for sharing their problem with you. Reaching out to their parents is difficult for many kids, so it’s important to recognize this effort as you want to be a resource for your child in the future.
For the full recap and many more tips, see the Tweens and Communications Talk Summary at TheMotherhood. Be sure to check out the other three Tween Academy sessions:
- Tweens and Building Self-Esteem
- Tweens and Personal Hygiene
- Tweens and Heading Back to School
One of the best ideas from the discussion was the Mind Jar. I had never heard of it before, but I’m going to make one for each of my kids with their favorite color.
Disclosure: I received the above bag and goodies from Unilever in exchange for my participation in the Tweens and Communications Discussion through TheMotherhood. All opinions are 100% my own.
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- Tweens and Communication – The Motherhood (mommadjane.com)
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- KidzVuz – Tweens Create Video Reviews on Their Own Online Community (connectwithyourteens.net)
- Join Me For Tweens And Communication Talk at TheMotherhood (scrapsofmygeeklife.com)
What a great giveaway! Being that I’m a mom of two teenagers daughters, ages 19 and 15, I could probably write a book on this subject. However, one of the best pieces of advice I can offer is to truly be interested in what’s going on in your teenagers life. Be available to talk, but don’t push them to do so. If you simply let them know that you’re there for them, they’ll open up when they feel ready…it will come. Treat them with the same respect that you expect from them.
I like driving them to school. It gives you a good chance to chat while you are all stuck in the same spot!
I second Rebecca’s advice– listen more than you talk. Ask they questions and let them solve their own problems, with you supporting from the sidelines.
I like the tip about really listening to them while they are talking to u…when my daughter wants to talk to me…I stop what I am doing and listen…not always sucessful at it but I try
thanks for the giveaway
The best advice I can give is to be honest. Kids appreciate being treated like adults and they don’t want to be talked down to!
coriwestphal at msn dot com
My tip is talk to them during quiet, down time, like right before they go to bed. I find my girls still loved getting tucked in. They are much more willing to talk about their day then rather then while we are hectically trying to get homework and dinner and activities done.
Keep it short and sweet – focus on action items, what your tween needs to do.
My tip is to listen and try to understand things from their perspective.