Guiding your teen through this crucial time requires thoughtfulness, understanding, and lots of open dialogue – which isn’t always easy to find! But by offering help in positive ways and fostering an open connection, you are setting yourself up for success when guiding your teen into adulthood.

In this blog post, we’ll look at how to establish a relationship built on trust and mutual respect, helpful tips for talking about difficult subjects like sex or drugs openly as well as common challenges teenagers face today.

So whether you’re just starting out on this journey together or if you’ve already been supporting your teenager through their teenage years; hopefully these insights will support you both in navigating this process with positivity and understanding.

Discuss the importance of setting boundaries and expectations with your teen 

As your teen begins to develop their independence, it’s important to establish clear boundaries and expectations to ensure their safety and success. By setting limits on activities, such as curfews and electronic usage, and communicating your expectations regarding school and behavior, you can help your teen build the discipline and responsibility needed to thrive as a young adult. Establishing these boundaries can also help you develop an open, honest relationship with your teen, based on mutual trust and respect.

So, take the time to initiate these conversations and work together to establish a framework that will set your teen up for success in the years ahead. It’s essential to prioritize your teen’s physical health, so it’s important that they make regular visits to the dental clinic, gynecologist (if applicable), and doctor. These visits can help prevent any serious illnesses or conditions from developing, while also providing your teen with an opportunity to discuss any questions or concerns they may have.

Provide guidance on making healthy decisions 

Making healthy decisions can be difficult for teens, especially with the numerous choices they have to make. It’s important that you provide guidance and educate your teen on making healthy decisions without being overly controlling or micromanaging their activities. Establish an open dialogue where your teen is free to express themselves without fear of judgment – this will help build trust between you both and create a safe environment where teens can feel empowered to make their own decisions.

You should also ensure that your teen is educated on the potential risks associated with certain activities; such as drinking alcohol, smoking cigarettes/weed, and taking drugs – so that they can make informed choices when presented with difficult situations.

Finally, it’s important to provide resources for any mental or emotional issues they may be experiencing such as stress, anxiety, or depression. By offering help in a non-judgmental way and creating an environment where your teen can communicate their feelings openly, you will be able to better understand and provide them with the support they need. 

Teach your teen how to handle stress and pressure 

As teenagers undergo numerous changes and challenges in their lives, it is essential to equip them with the skills to manage stress and pressure. Adolescence can be a tumultuous time, and with the added effects of social media and peer pressure, it is crucial to prepare teens to handle stress and anxiety effectively.

Teaching your teen healthy coping mechanisms such as deep breathing, journaling, and meditation can improve their emotional well-being significantly. Encourage your teen to develop time-management skills and regular exercise habits to reduce stress levels. By taking the time to teach your teen how to manage their stress and anxiety, you are setting them up for success in navigating the ups and downs of life.

Empower them to practice self-care and take care of their mental health 

Self-care is crucial for mental health, yet it is often neglected. Empowering your teen to take care of their mental health is a valuable life lesson and essential for growing into adulthood. Encourage them to get adequate sleep, practice healthy eating habits, and spend time outdoors in nature. Moreover, provide resources for any issues they may be facing such as stress, anxiety, or depression.

By teaching your teenagers how to take care of themselves physically and mentally, you are providing them with the tools they need to navigate life in a healthy way. When it comes to mental health, providing support is key. You can do this by fostering an open dialogue, listening without judgment, and offering help in a non-judgmental way. It’s important that your teen feels heard and understood, so actively take the time to listen and understand their perspective. 

Encourage them to seek out hobbies, activities, or work 

As human beings, we all desire to feel a sense of purpose and accomplishment. It’s this feeling that fuels us to keep pushing forward every day. One of the best ways for your teen to develop a sense of fulfillment is through hobbies, activities, or work.

Whether it be playing a sport, taking up an instrument, volunteering in the community, or getting a job; these experiences provide invaluable life lessons and help teens build self-confidence. By encouraging them to pursue their passions and explore new opportunities, you are giving them the support they need to reach their fullest potential.

It’s also important to discuss the concept of failure and mistakes with your teen, as these are unavoidable aspects of life that we all experience. Remind them that it’s okay to make mistakes and use these experiences as learning opportunities – this will help build resilience and give them the courage they need to continue chasing their dreams. 

It’s essential to take a consistent, proactive approach when it comes to educating our teens about boundaries, expectations, and conflict resolution. When we show our teens the value of taking care of their mental health, give them the tools they need to make responsible decisions, and demonstrate how meaningful connection with others and themselves can lead to more fulfilling lives, we’re helping them become powerful agents of change in our society. Now is the time for us parents to step up and show the world why investing in our children is so important.

Let’s commit to discussing these topics regularly together as a family so our teens can realize their full potential – which starts by being equipped with these essential life skills. And remember: if you ever need additional support or resources for your teen – help is just a phone call away. Thank you for reading this blog post and we hope this has been an eye-opening exploration into building strong relationships with your teen.

Also read:

Help for Struggling Young Adult Teens

Why Therapeutic are Schools Are Effective

The post How to Guide Your Teen Through Positive Growth and Development first appeared on Help Your Teens.

While chances are that there’s no class at school that focuses on starting a business at a young age, there are plenty of ways that you can support your teen’s business endeavors. From how you can set the stage for their success to the legal requirements involved and how to provide them with valuable resources, here’s just a few ways you can help foster your teen’s entrepreneurial spirit.

3 Helpful Tips for Bringing Their Ideas to Life

1. Bringing a business idea to life

For teens who are serious about becoming an entrepreneur, becoming a sounding board for their ideas and goals is a fantastic way to show your support. If they don’t already have a business idea in mind, guiding them through a brainstorming session and sharing ideas can be a great bonding activity.

However, if they already have an idea that they’re passionate about, creating a business plan can bring the idea to life in more ways than one.

In fact, having a well-constructed business plan is one of the first steps of starting a business, and can help you “clarify your strategy, identify potential roadblocks, decide what you’ll need in the way of resources, and evaluate the viability of your idea or your growth plans before you start a business,” notes one Shopify article. For teens, encouraging them to create a business plan is a fantastic way to support their business endeavors while also getting them to think about the big picture, rather than their initial idea. 

The Shopify article goes on to break down the creation of a business plan in nine simple steps, with a few key elements involving performing a market analysis and defining a marketing and financial plan. As such, creating a business plan will allow your teen to fully explore all aspects of their idea and will help them piece together (and gain an understanding of) what goes into building a business from the ground up.

Creating a business plan will also present an opportunity to outline both short and long-term goals, thus making it a great reference point down the line.

2. Creating a business — how to actually get started

After creating a thorough business plan, helping your teen actually start a business will involve plenty of paperwork, particularly when it comes to ensuring that everything is compliant with the law. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce website notes that you can start by helping your teen get a business license, which can be procured through your local town or city hall.

“City and county officials in the jurisdiction where the business is located can outline the requirements, explain penalties for noncompliance, and provide the proper paperwork to get the process rolling,” Business News Daily notes. The Chamber of Commerce site goes on to note that you’ll need to be aware of the state’s laws on teen labor and consent, pointing out that minors aren’t legally allowed to enter contracts without adult consent in most states.

“If the business plan is ambitious enough to need a loan, an adult will need to cosign: No one under the age of 21 can apply for a loan without adult consent.” Understanding the tax responsibilities involved with starting a business is another factor.

Starting a business will also require your teen to think about choosing a legal structure. While there are several options out there, such as a sole proprietor or a corporation, choosing to form a limited liability company (LLC) can present many benefits, thus making it a worthwhile consideration.

For example, Investopedia notes that an LLC protects a business’ owners from being personally pursued for repayment of the company’s debts or liabilities. That said, it’s also noted that an LLC is a formal business arrangement that requires articles of organization to be filed with the state.

It’s worth mentioning that anyone under the age of 18 cannot form a business entity, though parents can. Thankfully, this doesn’t have to be a stressful process, as there are plenty of online services that can help you seamlessly get things in order, with popular options including Legalzoom and Northwest Registered Agent.

Reading comprehensive reviews on a particular service can be a great way to determine what you need, as well as compare and contrast one service to the next. For example, one Legalzoom LLC review covers various aspects of the service, from what the company offers to the price points involved as well as the packages offered.

3. Providing access to valuable resources

Indulging in your teen’s entrepreneurial interests and doing some research can be another great way to support their business endeavors while setting them up for long-term success. Gathering resources such as free online courses and video tutorials, etc., can all work to provide your teen with supplemental insight and knowledge on the business creation process. And, if you know someone who has successfully started their own business, reaching out and setting up a meeting is a great way to allow your teen to ask any questions while getting solid advice from someone who has first-hand experience.  

An article from uschamber.com outlines several business resources for young entrepreneurs, including various programs and camps out there that are geared towards giving young entrepreneurs the tools that they need to succeed.

Beta Camp is just one resource listed by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and is defined as a three-month virtual enrichment program for kids aged 13 to 18. “During the three-month program, students will attend a virtual workshop on Saturdays. They’ll get hands-on experience working on a team and building a real business. During the program, they’ll receive one-on-one mentorship opportunities and interact with like-minded peers.” 

For parents of teens that have ambitious business goals, knowing where to start in properly guiding and supporting them can leave many feeling at a loss. However, by encouraging them to get their idea onto paper in the form of a business plan, ensuring that they are well aware of the law, and giving them access to various resources are all ways that you can help them garner success in the long run.

Also read:

How to Help My Teen Build Self-Confidence

How Short Chats Build Strong Relationships

The post How to Support Your Teen’s Business Endeavors first appeared on Help Your Teens.

By Karen Harris

Congratulations, you are a teenager! The big question is, now what?!

The teenage years are an exciting yet ever-changing period of your life. New challenges and tasks seem to pop up almost daily—not to mention all the transitions your body is going through.

As you get older and take on more responsibilities, you have probably wondered how to do many of the adult tasks your parents or older siblings seem to breeze through daily.

Everyday challenges like how to tell if the chicken in the fridge has gone bad to how to get rid of dandruff has likely crossed your mind. As you learn and experience new things, questions about basic life skills will arise. LIFE SKILLS FOR TEENS is here to help you solve the daily problems adults take for granted.

While the internet provides a wealth of knowledge, it can be overwhelming to navigate at times. I mean, which of the thirteen articles about budgeting and saving money is actually accurate? And yes, you can ask your parents or other trusted adults in your life to teach you specific skills, but sometimes you just want to figure it out on your own. That’s where this guide comes into play.

Dive in and start learning life skills for teens! Order yours now.

Read: Help for Struggling Young Adults.

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Learn more about young adult life skills for teens 17-25 and programs designed to help your young adult thrive.

The post Life Skills for Teens first appeared on Help Your Teens.

Every parent wants to see their teens succeed in life. That’s the biggest job of parenting, after all – raising someone who can eventually go out on their own and do good things in the world.

Sometimes, it can feel like teaching them how to be a good person is easier than teaching them how to be successful in a career.

You don’t have to come up with any grand schemes or techniques when it comes to helping your teen succeed. They might already have certain skills that can help them in the future. It’s just a matter of honing those skills and discovering their true passions.

How can you help your teenager do that? Why is it so important for them to become self-sufficient in the first place? Let’s take a closer look at the benefits of useful skills and how they can positively impact your teens’ future.

Why Self-Sufficiency is Important

When you turn in a resume for a job, there are two different skill sets a potential employer will look at – hard skills and soft skills. Hard skills include specific talents and strengths as they pertain to a job, like computer skills, management skills, or marketing skills.

Soft skills have become more important in recent years as employers are looking for well-rounded individuals. Soft skills include things like:

• Strong communication
• Ethics
• Adaptability
• Creativity
• Problem-solving

Soft skills can help your teens to become more self-sufficient and emotionally intelligent. Those are incredible tools and characteristics to have in the working world. Almost anyone can learn a hard skill, but soft skills require time to build and grow. Some people naturally have more of them than others, but honing in on them will make it easier for your teenager to “leave the nest,” understand what others are thinking and feeling, and use their instincts to get a job done.

If you’re concerned that your teen doesn’t have many soft skills, they can be taught. Most people do have them but may not show them often. Find ways to encourage your teen to express themselves more frequently. Doing so can show them how important those skills are and how far they will get them.

Practical Skills Your Teen Should Know

Encouraging your teen to develop their soft skills doesn’t mean the hard skills should be ignored! There are some practical things every teenager should know – not just for career success, but when it comes to self-sufficiency and being able to take care of themselves. Useful skills for the future aren’t just about work. Teaching your teens life skills will boost their confidence, reduce stress levels, help them set goals, and motivate them to learn more.

Start with some basic life skills you’re most comfortable with. Maybe you’re handy with car repairs. Teaching your teen some DIY car maintenance solutions like how to change their oil or fix a flat tire can go a long way.

Do you like to be in the kitchen? Cooking is an incredible skill that your teen can either use in their personal or professional life if they want to pursue it as a career.

Ask your teen what they’re interested in, too. Maybe they’ve always watched you doing things around the house or using your own skills for something and they want to try it for themselves. Life skills are about learning and taking on new challenges. Whatever you teach your teen  – whether it’s career-focused or not, make sure it’s something they will be able to utilize on their own for a lifetime.

Harnessing Your Teens’ Strengths

Teenagers (and adults) should always be willing to learn and grow. No matter how old you are, lifelong learning will teach you the skills needed to succeed and thrive in every area of your life. But, that doesn’t mean skills should ever be forced – especially as a teenager.

If you’re having a hard time helping your teen hone useful skills for the future, consider the things they already enjoy doing. How can their current strengths, hobbies, and interests better their future? Could they fuel a career? You might be surprised at how certain things your teens enjoy could actually help them become successful.

For example, if it seems like your teenager spends a lot of their time playing video games, you might assume they’re just being lazy. But, gaming skills can be extremely helpful in the real world. Video games can help with:

• Collaboration
• Problem-solving
• Social skills
• Strategic planning
• Leadership
• Conflict resolution

Talk to your teen about the things they enjoy most when they’re playing video games, and help them to focus on those specific skills. The same rings true for any hobby or passion they might have.

Whether they’re into sports, music, art, animals, or spending time with people, there are strengths to be found everywhere. Sometimes, it just takes a little encouragement and digging to find them. As a parent, offer that encouragement consistently and freely, and you’ll be able to stand by proudly as your teen steps into a successful future.

Read: Help for Struggling Young Adults.

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If you are struggling with your young adult teenager that’s failing to launch and you have exhausted your local resources, learn more about how residential treatment can help your teen. Contact us today for  a free consultation.

The post Teen Life Skills first appeared on Help Your Teens.

There are skills they can develop that can help them cope with the stress of adolescence, discover what they love, keep them busy and also help prepare them for the professional world. Here are four life skills for teens that could help them immediately and prepare them for a job:

Cooking Skills

Fine-tuned cooking skills will equip your teen to make meals for themselves and open up opportunities towards a solid career in the culinary world. If you, or a family member, has enhanced knowledge about knife skills, gastronomy or advanced cooking techniques, share them with your teen. Arrange that they work with an experienced cook, within your family, twice a week. They can be given more responsibility, once they’ve established their basic skills.

For example, after about three weeks, your teen can design a menu that combines complementary dishes and tests their culinary skill set. You can sign your teen up for a cooking class offered within your community, for more in-depth instruction.

You can also ask a local restaurant if they have any internship opportunities within their kitchens. An internship is a wonderful opportunity for your teen to learn how a high-functioning restaurant kitchen operates, first hand.

Recreational Sports

Your teen should have hobbies that keep them occupied and out of trouble. Recreational sports are an excellent hobby that allow the release of stress and encourage focus within the practice of a skill. Single-person recreational sports provide your teen with personal goals and incentives– they can only rely on themselves and their own growth in skills for the achievement of their athletic goal. Swimming, running, cycling and kayaking are recreational sports that your teen can practice independently.

They can set short term and long-term goals for themselves, which is a valuable skill one must utilize in many facets of their professional life. There is also the sport of target practice, with the use of airsoft guns, compound bows or crossbows. This sport requires immense practice and focus– two traits that can be found in highly successful people and are desired by employers in every field.

Writing Journal

Communication is key in every area of our lives. Help your teen develop their communication skills, with the promotion of journal writing. You can provide them with a journal and encourage a regular practice of writing with monetary incentive. If their allowance is dependent on how many pages they write, they will cooperate with less protest. A journal is a therapeutic outlet for your teen, where they can write down their daily encounters and the thoughts they have on their budding identities.

Let your teen know that their writing journal is private and you will only check the page numbers, with their supervision. Writing is a method of critical thinking, which is important in many jobs– your teen should get a head start on sharpening this skill. A journal also helps refine your teens’ communication skills. Communication is another key career trait that is pivotal in job interviews, professional interactions and project presentations.

Computer Skills

If you’re the parent of a self-proclaimed computer geek, seek out opportunities that will help them develop digital skills. If your teen is interested in website design, enroll them in a graphic design course. Many community colleges have design departments, some of which may offer part-time, night courses. Graphic design will let your teen engage with their computer, exercise their creativity and help prepare them for an eventual career in that realm.

Also read:

Help for Your Struggling Young Adult

What are the Goals of Therapeutic Programs?

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If you are struggling with your teenager or young adult and have exhausted your local resources, learn more about how residential treatment can help your troubled teen make better choices. Contact us today for  a free consultation.

The post Life Skills Your Teen Can Use Now and Later In Life first appeared on Help Your Teens.