When was the last time you felt like your teen just wasn't listening to you? It can be incredibly frustrating, especially when you're trying to help or guide them. In this episode, I’m tackling one of the most common questions parents ask: Why doesn’t my teen listen to me anymore?
We’ll explore three common reasons this happens and how you can shift your approach to improve communication. From offering advice at the right time, to balancing feedback with encouragement, and understanding how their brain is wired differently as they grow, I share some practical tips you can use to foster a better connection with your teen.
Key Takeaways:
- Advice overload: Teens often resist advice if they haven’t been heard first. Phrases like “you should” or “if you just” can shut down communication before it starts.
- Empathy first: Acknowledge their emotions and give them space to explore solutions before jumping in with your own suggestions.
- Balancing feedback: If your conversations are mainly requests or corrections (like chores), your teen may feel unseen or criticised. Be mindful to balance this with recognising their efforts and strengths.
- Brain changes: As teens grow, their brains respond more to external voices and new stimuli. It’s not personal, but it does mean you might need to adjust how you grab their attention.
- Positive reinforcement: Compliments on things outside of chores, like their loyalty to friends or efforts in school, can make everyday requests feel less critical.
- Timing matters: Suggesting a break or circling back to a conversation later can give your teen the space they need to process without feeling overwhelmed.
Resources:
- If you missed it, check out yesterday’s episode on Why won’t my teen talk to me after school? for more insights on teen communication.
Join me tomorrow as I answer the question: Why doesn’t my teen want to spend time with the family?
It’s an important one, so stay tuned!
connect with Marie
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