Parents always dread when their children approach teenage. This is a very crucial period for the children as well as for their parents. Parents need to be very careful in dealing with their teenage children because, teenage is a very fragile period and unless we handle it with care, we can break our teenagers. This is the time when our children bubble with life; they come up with exciting new ideas for life, form values for life, try to do adventurous things, will be interested in getting famous. This is also the time where they would like to explore their sexual fantasies, get to try many unhealthy habits like smoking, substance abuse, pornographic addiction, etc. Peer pressure is too high during this phase and they become rebellious during this phase.

The best parenting advice that anyone can give here is, try to be sensitive to your teenager’s needs. Try to understand their world from their perspective. Do not impose your standards on them; let them not live up to your standards. Help them to set their own standards for life and you assist them in setting high standards for themselves. Help them build self-confidence. Try to respect their sense of privacy and at the same time watch their movement so that they do not hide dirty secrets from you that can get them in to trouble.

Be open to your children’s friends. Let them explore this world and let them try on various activities. If you can afford let them get proper training in area of their choice. Do not make education their only interest. Never compare you teenagers with your neighbors children or with anyone else. Remember that your teenager is unique and he or she does not like to be like anyone else but themselves. The more you thwart them in this area the more rebellious they will become.

Learn that parenting is not policing. So do not tail your teenager daughter; trust them and this will make them more responsible. When your children enter their teenager you should become their friend because the only group of people they trust during this phase of life is their friends.

You should also know that they have their own world often parents do not know about. So many things can be happening in that world; may be they are in infatuation with someone and trying to impress them. This is the time their body is adapting to the new hormonal changes of puberty. Sex education during this time is very crucial; not all parents are comfortable discussing this subject with their children. If you are not comfortable dealing this topic with your teenager, you should you can identify someone whom you can trust to educate your teenager on this area. If they have questions relating to sex answer them with correct information. If you do not provide them the clarifications they need, they will try to seek clarification from the wrong sources.

Wish you happy parenting.

That's really good advice.

It's really important to have a close relationship with your children, particularly when they're teenagers. Easier said than done because they can be very trying at this time of their lives and exhibit what may seem to us rebelliousness as they spread their wings and try to find themselves. And you can't have a close relationship with them if you become judgmental of them and try to force your way of seeing things on them. They'll just naturally shy away and keep things from you. So parenting a teenager is walking a fine line. You need to be a friend but at the same time be able to provide wise guidance without seeming to be telling them how to live their lives. It takes a lot of caring. It takes a lot of patience. You need to give them the time and the priority.

Thank you for that post, it would be a great advice, alka. Well, in addition to that, as parents you should be sensitive enough in showing your actions to your children because you don't know individual feelings. Do you think you would be able to read your child's emotion if he/she can hide it well? Later on, you'll find out that daughter/son of yous has a root of anger. What do you think is the best thing to do to avoid this situation?

Nice post. I learned a lot from this. You're right about parenting is not policing so I won't treat them like that cuz I've been there and I don't want them to feel like they're being suffocated. I want them to respect and love me.

I read some very interesting information on the brain development of the teenager between the ages of 12 and 18. To me it was a "wow" moment. There are things we expect from teenagers that they simply can't do, not because they are naughty or want to irratate you but because the frontal lobe of the brain is not as developed as that of an adult. This only happens round about the age of 18. I did a short article on it on my one website. If anybody wants to read it the website is [URL="http://zian20.webs.com"]Dyna-Edu[/URL]

I think the best thing you can do for your teenager is to give them their space and privacy, but be there for them when they need it. Step in if you have to.

I think you're right. Teenage years are so hard for both the teens and the parents. This is when the child really starts to develop and learn more about themselves. They start thinking about what they dream and what they want to do with the rest of their lives. I think they really need space, but they also need guidance. They need to understand that you will always be there for them when they need it

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-Brittany Brydahl