As tempting as it may be to come home from work after a busy day at the office and just tune off to your teenager’s moody behavior—don’t! It may actually be quite hard to ignore their changes in temperament in cases where your adolescent is hankering for attention. He/she may actually want your help and may be using the moodiness as a call for you to take notice.

If you find your teenager constantly locking him/herself in his/her room as soon as he/she may get back from school or an extra-curricular activity, then don’t just leave your teen to mope behind closed doors. Get up and try knocking.

He/she may not answer at first but it’s worth a try. Why? you may ask yourself.

Because a simple knock can show you care. And that can mean the world for a teen in search of guidance among a sea of changes. 
 

Your knocking may cause conflict or tension. If your teen rebels against you because of his/her want to be ‘alone’ then you may definitely get caught in the middle of things, but this may be better than you being nowhere at all for your teen.

Some parents may be particularly apprehensive about walking up to that room and knocking, because of a fear of the conflict or tension that may ensue from it. But deciding to disregard your teenager’s moods in order to keep things nice and tidy for the time being, will get back at you in the end when he/she starts taking more drastic measures in order to express him/herself. Better now than later.
 

Before you even think of sending someone else in to talk to your teen, like a counselor, go in yourself. If you can, try to catch him/her in a better mood or at a time when he/she is “out of hiding.” Don’t just be aware, but active, and you’ll put your awareness to good use.