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Young Minds
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Fighting for young people's mental health
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Teenage behaviour

Tuning into teens

The teenage years are notorious for a break-down in communication between parents and children. Seemingly overnight, happy and chatty children can stew in silence, throw tantrums, snap sarcastically or appear unwilling to engage with family life at all. So often, an angry or irritable teenager results in an even angrier and more irritable parent - but it doesn’t have to be like that.
In Short
There are five basic steps involved in developing emotional intelligence:

Tune in to your teenager’s emotional state, with real interest and empathy - and recognise your own;

Connect with them, making time to give them your undivided attention;

Accept and listen to what they are saying, without being dismissive;

Reflect on what is happening with them; and,

Once the emotional crisis has passed, look with them at the options they may have to resolve the issues they face - but don’t do it for them.

Real connection and authentic communication are everything.

Research from Bath Spa University has found that one of the most successful ways to improve behaviour and relationships is to improve young people’s social and emotional skills. Anti-social behaviour can be a tool for maintaining distance from parents and others “who don’t understand”, as teenagers undergo a powerful metamorphosis to become young adults, with all the hopes, fears, dreams and insecurities which that involves.

Developing your own emotional intelligence, and helping your teenager through emotion coaching, can make a significant difference to the life of the whole family. Being emotionally intelligent means that you are able and willing to to look below the surface, at what is actually going on in your son or daughter’s life, and to identify and understand both your own emotions and theirs – exactly what you are both feeling and why.

There are five basic steps involved in developing emotional intelligence: tune in to your teenager’s emotional state, with real interest and empathy – and recognise your own; connect with them, making time to give them your undivided attention; accept and listen to what they are saying, without being dismissive; reflect on what is happening with them; and, once the emotional crisis has passed, look with them at the options they may have to resolve the issues they face – but don’t do it for them. Real connection and authentic communication are everything.

Emotional intelligence helps to build a level of insight when solving problems, and offers strategies for managing the appropriate expression of strong feelings. Teenagers can also be helped this way to cope with peer pressure and conflict, build emotional resilience and learn to trust their instincts in unfamiliar situations. As a parent, being able to give a measured response – perhaps when you are feeling rejected or overwhelmed by your child’s behaviour – defuses the situation and helps you both to build a stronger and more satisfying relationship.

Teenagers still need parenting, but during the teenage years it is time for parents to move from the role of “manager” in their child’s life, to that of “consultant”. That way, you can avoid some of the conflicts which come with loss of power, or the bewilderment of disconnection. Young people still need your active involvement in their lives – and they need you to model the emotional intelligence and self-awareness which will strengthen and prepare them for adult life.

This article was written by a colleague of Dr Sarah Temple – Lucy Beney MA. Lucy is a qualified facilitator for the University of Melbourne’s “Tuning into Teens” parenting programme. She is currently working towards an Advanced Diploma in Integrative Counselling and is in placement with EHCAP at London Road Clinic, Milborne Port (56londonroad.co.uk). She is a member of the BACP.

Bath Spa University and EHCAP, a social enterprise, have been commissioned by Public Health Somerset to provide Mindful Emotion Coaching Training to people working with children and young people in Somerset.

If you would like to contact Dr Sarah Temple directly – please click – http://www.doctorsarah.co.uk

DISCLAIMER
This article is for information only and should not be used for the diagnosis or treatment of medical conditions. Essential Parent has used all reasonable care in compiling the information from leading experts and institutions but makes no warranty as to its accuracy. Consult a doctor or other health care professional for diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions. For details click here.