Defiant Teens - Common Sense Parenting Tips

Parenting is not easy and parenting a teenager in particular takes hard work, determination and a little know-how. I've spent a few years making lots of mistakes until I finally began to learn that there is no magic wand to parenting and there are no shortcuts. Everyone has the ability to improve their parenting skills. The following are some great common sense parenting tips for teen parenting that will not only help them mature, but help you mature as well:


• Don't sweat the small stuff. There is an old saying about choosing battles wisely. It doesn't have to be a battle. Just decide if something is worth worrying about and if it isn't, then let it go! A teenager's messy room might be cramping your style a bit but probably isn't worth a big knock-down-drag-out. A significant issue like drinking or drugs is far more worthy of addressing.

• Encourage them to bring friends home. It shows you are making an effort to meet their friends, even the ones you might not like or have concerns about. It also has a way of helping to weed out the good friends from the ones who aren't so good to be hanging around.

• Cut your teen a little slack.Your teenager is obviously growing up, at least in some sense of the word. They are trying to figure out what their identity is and gain an understanding of their place in the world. Be willing to give them this chance and allow a bit of leeway or room.

• Stay on the same page. There should be a clear understanding between parents and children as to what the rules are, and the consequences for breaking those rules. This helps to avoid one parent saying one thing, and the other parent saying something different.

• Know where your teenager is at. The older they are the more time away they should be allowed, but this should be in direct proportion to how responsible they have been with their freedom. However, they should absolutely be required to check in to let you know where they are and who they are with.

• Don't shy away from the hard discussions. There are a number of topics that you should discuss with your teenager, such as drinking, drugs, sex, pregnancy etc. and stress the consequences of bad decisions. Offer your help and support if they are in trouble or in any type of dangerous situation.

• Be a good role model. Most importantly, teenagers are learning from their parents and will be better equipped to make good sound decisions if they see by your example that you make good sound decisions.