The Huddle Wisdom Blog: For Parents of Anxious & Sensitive Kids
Expert guidance and real-world reflections from a child psychiatrist who’s also a parent.
Dealing with teenage rebellion: a brief guide for parents
Teenage rebellion is a common and normal thing that many parents have to face. Teen's rebel for different reasons. And remember their brains have not fully matured, so don't be surprised if you have to face some irrationality with your teen. Perhaps husband's like me have the same problem - i wonder if my brain is fully matured or not.
Rebellion is a way for teens to assert their independence, explore their identity, and test their limits. This is all normal but man, it can be a pain in the arse.
How can parents deal with teenage rebellion effectively and maintain a healthy relationship with their children?
Some tips:
- Understand the reasons behind the rebellion. Teenage rebellion is not a personal attack on you or a sign of disrespect - though it can feel like that! It is a natural and necessary part of adolescent development. Teens rebel because they want to separate themselves from their parents and establish their own identity - you might not be so cool anymore, Inspite of you ...
