100 Ways to Connect With Your TeenWritten by Dr. Debra Hapenny Ciavola
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52.Use natural and logical consequences, so discipline makes sense. 53.When they come home from an event ask, “How did you show good character?” 54.Teach respect for life in all forms. 55.Ask if they would like to go out to eat, run an errand, or go shopping with you. 56.Show up to watch them in their activities. Clap loudly. 57.Talk to their friends, learn their names, and let them confide in you. 58.Work together in community activities. 59.Learn more about their world. 60.Believe they can make a difference and be a success. 61.Admit when you are wrong. Be able to say, “I’m sorry.” 62.Hug them often. 63.Say, “I love you. I’m proud of you.” 64.Show your teen respect. 65.Eat dinner together four to five days a week. 66.Never berate or belittle teens in front of their friends or peers. 67.Ask their opinions. 68.Give them room to breath to balance independence with dependence. 69.Set standards in clothing while still allowing them to express themselves. 70.Talk to your teen when there is not a problem. 71.Listen carefully to what is being said as well as what is not. 72.Have daily conversations. 73.Share your concerns rather than being undercover cop. 74.Keep discussions with your teen confidential unless they are involved with something dangerous. 75.Follow through on promises. 76.Allow your teen to take responsibility when you see them handling it well. 77.Forgive your teen when they make a mistake. 78.Negotiate new challenges. 79.Give your teen increasing autonomy (even if it kills you). 80.Accept all of your teen’s feelings as long as they are respectfully conveyed. 81.Schedule times to talk about unappealing topics. Do not catch on fly. 82.Focus on what your teen did right before offering constructive criticism. 83.Make more statements rather than asking questions. 84.Talk to your teenager rather than at them. 85.Don’t over-react. 86.Accept they will have moody behavior and teach them how to deal with it. 87.Allow them to make decisions about their own lives whenever possible. 88.Remember you are in process of “people-making.” 89.Express words of appreciation. 90.Listen with your heart. 91.Help them develop a sense of humor by telling funny stories of your day. 92.Enforce mutually acceptable behavior standards. 93.Listen to whole story before you react. 94.Use natural and logical consequences when a boundary is broken. 95.Cook together or teach them how to cook. 96.Wait up until they come home. 97.Talk in dark after house is quiet and they are tired and relaxed. 98.Find out if they want you to fix it or just listen before you give advice. 99.Discover a shared passion together. 100.Remember, children become who you predict them to be.
Dr. Debra Hapenny Ciavola is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist working with children, adolescents, and adults. The author of 50 Great Tips, Tricks, and Techniques to Connect with Your Teen, she can be reached at DrDebbie@greatparentingtips.com.
| | Valentines Gifts from the HeartWritten by Rondi Hillstrom Davis and Janell Sewall Oakes
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4. Repeat process for each cookie. (You will only need to coat mould with cooking spray once, but you will have to re-sugar mould for each cookie.) If you don’t have a cookie mold, on a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to 1/4 inch thick. Use a heart shaped cookie cutter to make your cookies. Use a plastic drinking straw to make a hole in top of each cookie. Sprinkle tops with sugar. Place on a greased cookie sheet. 5. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake all chilled cookies for about 10 minutes, until golden. Cool completely. 6. Tie a 9-inch piece of satin ribbon through hole of each cookie. On a tag, attach your special message or Valentine wish. Instead of store bought Valentines, encourage your child to make a gift that will fill him with pride and accomplishment. You have permission to reprint this article electronically or in print, free of charge, provided that each article is: 1. Printed in its full form with no changes 2. Includes an active link 3. A courtesy copy of your publication is sent to above contact 4. And following byline appears at bottom of each article: About Authors: Rondi Hillstrom Davis and Janell Sewall Oakes are co-authors of award-winning book Together: Creating Family Traditions. To check out their website that's jam packed with family ideas, visit To subscribe to their online newsletter, go to
About the Authors: Rondi Hillstrom Davis and Janell Sewall Oakes are the co-authors of the award-winning book Together: Creating Family Traditions. To check out their website that's jam packed with family ideas, visit To subscribe to their online newsletter, go to
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