My Teen & Me: Building Healthy Relationships One Step at a Time

      Laurence Steinberg’s research shows that parents and their adolescent become increasingly distant during puberty. This can create conflicts between the parent-child relationship (1987).   Parents may try to regain their connection with their adolescent through indulging them in a “lack of rules and daily health routines, few expectations to contribute to household chores, giving into demands, and solving problems for adolescents rather than allowing them to take responsibility” (Rehm, Darling, Coccia, & Cui, 2017, p. 278). Although this is meant to be supportive or an act of love to their children, it is actually delaying their independent ability (Rehm et al., 2017; Encourage Responsibility, 2014). As children become adolescents, they gradually become more self-regulating but need their parents support for healthy development. Parents can positively monitor and assist as adolescents try to regulate self-impulses and new formed abilities that prepare them for adulthood (

After learning your different love languages, this blog will examine building your relationship with your teen through quality time. The following video will explain some of the warnings of boredom in your teenager and how you can help through one-on-one activities, outdoor activities, and family meetings. After the video, please comment below on any questions and stories you may want to share and rate the reader survey. Challenge This week’s challenge is to invite your teenager to participate in an activity he/she likes to do. This can be anything from getting ice cream, taking a day trip, or playing his/her favorite game. If you want to take it one step further, organize a family council meeting that allows your child to openly participate in family events and decisions. Survey Please take the reader survey. We value your input in helping us modify our blogs. Thanks! Reader Survey References Arnett, J.A. (2018). The emotional self. In S. LeMay-Finn, A. Chow, and C. Turner (Ed