How To Deal With Those Almost Teens in Your Home
No aspect of parenting is easy, but it’s also one of the most rewarding things in life. As your children approach puberty, they aren’t going to be just your babies anymore. Many physical changes also make for emotional changes, and this can be a difficult yet very memorable time in the household. Continue reading to learn more about how to deal with those almost teens in your home.
Kids need structure, and you’re going to have to enforce this more than ever when your children are almost teens. They are going to rebel, and not only that, but it’s more important they see that they have to start accepting responsibility for what they’re doing. If you give your kids chores or things to do, which you should, then they need to be held accountable for them.
Your children are going to want independence and to be treated like a grownup, but they are also still going to need that babying. While it’s not necessarily babying, you know what it means. While you don’t need to let them control this and manipulate you, you do need to learn these cues so that you can better handle situations.
Think of different things you can get them to do to help them become more independent. Some of these things will be like chores, but others are going to be things they enjoy doing as well. You want to diversify your approach here, as your objective is to teach them at the same time you’re having fun with them. For instance, why not start a garden, teaching them all about growing their own produce or beautiful landscape. This can be a great weekend activity, and you can teach them so much. This also gets them outdoors, which is a blessing in today’s video game world.
Whatever you do, you don’t want to baby them all the time or constantly hover over them. All the other tips described so far have concerned fostering independence in your children. You need to grow them up to become independent adults, so it’s all about showing them different things including how to take responsibility for their actions.
Always make sure you are making time for your children. Children put up with a lot as far as trying to gain acceptance from other children. They want time to just relax and be themselves, and they need you to share that with. Do fun things with your children. Have a family night one day a week, and try to have dinner and other times to hang out with them. Even a simple walk in the park can really mean a lot.
Taking care of your almost teens is not easy, but it is one of the most unforgettable times of their lives. You can watch as their dreams manifest as well as their talents. Get to know your kids even better, and learn as you grow with these tips that you have read regarding handling your tweens.