If you have a teenage child, you must be at war every day. Children, who are between 10 and 13, are most likely have fights with their parents. This is because of their tryst with independence, added with the effort to find their identity in a complex society. Parenting teens is definitely not the easiest job in the world.
While an argument out of the blue may leave you in shock, there are ways to deal with this in a smart manner. There are ways to win an argument with your teenage child. It is important to have an effective argument with a teenager and win so that you can avoid bigger issues in the future.
The good part is that, for a teenager, being argumentative is a healthy sign. It shows they are in the process of learning how to express their opinion about various issues and handle disagreements at the same time. In a society that is growing intolerant to the other perspective, it is important that your child learns to respect disagreements. Being argumentative is also a sign that your child is getting independent and needs less psychological support from you.
According to family psychologist Brad Sachs, if your teenage child does not argue with you, it may be a matter of concern. It is a sign that the child is not working hard enough to establish an independent identity. Here are the tricks to win an argument with a teenager the smart way.
Decide how important the issue is in the long term. Engage in an argument if you think it is going to affect your child's future. If you think it's a temporary thing which tends to pass away with time, avoid arguing about it.
Give options to your child to choose from. It makes them feel that they are in control of their own life. Listen to their perspective and stay away from negative practices like sarcasm and name-calling. But, be strict about disrespectful behavior. Appreciate them when they behave well. Appreciation works better than punishment.
While parenting teens, it is important to remember that children are more likely to revolt if you are too rigid. According to the Huff Post, teens need to feel respected, acknowledged and understood.
"Where parents go wrong is they have the view of the slippery slope. If I give in here, it will all fall apart. The opposite is true," the Wall Street Journal quoted Alan Kazdin, a professor of psychology and child psychiatry at Yale University.
