As much as a teenager’s peer group has its influence over his actions, you are also a prime role model for his behavior. And the values or ideals you hold dear most likely may be passed on to your child. Don’t be a hypocrite. In order to keep your household lie-free, of course don’t get caught lying yourself! Adolescents cannot look up to someone who’s telling them one thing while doing another. As much as possible, live by what you preach. Refer to Dealing with lying teens for more information.

Use humor when you can. When discussing sensitive topics with your teenager, such as sex or drug abuse, one can always look towards humor as a great tool in softening things up. If you crack a joke as an icebreaker to begin a topic about sex education, then once you are both laughing it’ll be easier to ease into the topic’s nitty gritty details.

Humor can also make you both feel instantly more comfortable with one another. It’s a great way to alleviate any stress! This is just one helpful hint that may clear up the communication line between you and your teen. Refer to Communicating with your troubled teen for more information.

What exactly is active parenting?

An active parent asks a question and takes the time to really listen to the answer. An active parent would not wait for a teenager to ask for help, but offer it. An active parent is not too busy with work to ask a teen how his/her day went after school. These are just a few examples that elucidate active parenting, for more refer to Active parenting for teens with troubles.

A point which can contribute to your teen’s misbehavior is your own underestimation of him. If you do not keep yourself fully aware of your teenager’s full capabilities and the different possibilities that he may turn to when looking for a way around a given penalty, then you’re digging a whole for yourself to fall into. You mustn’t underestimate your teen.

When faced with a penalty, your defiant teen will try and look for a way out. It may help to even think of back-up penalties to use in place of set ones in order to keep yourself a step ahead of your teenager in the case of him trying to avoid original penalties. It’s never a waste to ask your self, What if? By thinking things through beforehand, you can lessen the chances of your teenager thinking them through ahead of you. Refer to What could be causing your teen’s defiant behavior? to for more information.