10: Getting Your Teen to Open Up and Trust You

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Cathy Printon has been an educator for more than 30 years. She has a passion in understanding personal stories and narratives to help students learn and grow authentically. Parents always struggle with having their teen open up and talk about some of the challenges they’re going through. Cathy shares advice on how to sit and really make your teen feel heard and seen, and how you can build a closer relationship with your child through trust and honesty. </span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Key Takeaways</span></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">It’s hard to have a meaningful conversation with your teenager. How do you get them to talk?</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">It’s so easy to just give advice as an adult who has made it out on the other side, but that’s not what your teen needs. Practice active listening skills and try not to put your parent hat on. </span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">You don’t have to go into the super hard-hitting stuff, sometimes just asking them who they’re sitting with at lunch is enough.</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">What made you laugh today? That gets a teen to really talk and open up. </span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">What stories do you share and what stories don’t you share? </span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">It’s important to be honest, but give advice/information based on what’s acceptable for their age. </span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">You want to give your child both the good and the bad life stories. </span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">It’s important to make your child feel seen