The teen years are never easy, however one of the most positive things you can do as a parent is to build and maintain a positive relationship with your teenager. Teens feel strong relationship bonds when they see that their parents not only love them, but also like them. Show them you want to spend time together, to talk, and to share in their lives. Your teen is worth getting to know!

Tips to build a strong relationship:

Be There for Daily Quality Time

Taking time each day to talk or do activities together (such as walking the dog or exercising) can reap huge rewards.

Be There on a Weekly Basis

Set aside a larger amount of time on the weekends to spend with your teen.

For example, plan a game night or dinner with the family.

This larger amount of time really opens up the lines of communication.

Be There By Doing Fun Things Together

This is the perfect way to get away from the parent role and just enjoy spending time with your teen again.

Activities such as family barbeques, vacations or Saturday hikes help create a relaxed environment for you to have fun and laugh with your whole family.

Be There With Open Communication

This can be difficult if your teen shuts him/herself off from you, or if you feel uncomfortable talking about certain issues. Although it may be difficult, it is very important to talk.

Make sure you clearly verbalize all of your thoughts to your teen and actively listen to what he/she is saying.

By showing them you are listening, they will see that you can empathize with what they are feeling.

Non-verbal communication such as: notes, e-mails and small gifts are also effective ways of communicating.

Be There for Special Events

There are many day to day concerns that parents must deal with but don’t forget about your teen. They need you to be there for those events that are really important to them.

Just showing up tells them “You are important to me, and I love you.”