Parental Guide On Difficult Discussions For Tweens: Listening, Discussing, and Parenting Tweens Through Puberty

By Elaine D.

 

Puberty for boys and girls is always a unique experience. Would you like to learn about practical, loving and understanding parenting to get your tweens to be the best version they can be?

Parental guide on difficult discussions for tweens is a parents and guardians' guidebook for parents who want to navigate the difficult but essential discussions critical to the positive growth of their tweens.

These discussions can be uncomfortable and tricky to navigate, with many issues to educate your tweens. These hard-to-have talks include those central to handling the loss of loved ones, disaster preparedness, alcohol, drugs and substance abuse, prejudice and racism, tween violence and runaway situations and everything else as they grow and experience the full spectrum of life.

This guide covers everything a parent needs to help tweens achieve their potential and grow into the best versions of themselves.
Here is a quick expose on what you'll find inside this guide:

• An extensive parent's guide to difficult teen discussions
• A look into eliminating and navigating alcohol, drugs and substance abuse
• An illuminating look into the mental health of teenagers and tweens
• Helping tweens use social media positively
• Preparing tweens for potential death and loss of loved ones
• A deep dive into racism and its broader effects
• Understanding runaways and violence in tweens
• Parental self-care

This book is an essential reference point for parents to have open and frank discussions about some of life's most awkward topics, helping parents get the positive best out of their tweens.

Click "Buy Now" and discover all there is to know about positively having those difficult but must-have discussions with your tweens!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Goffredo Righi Schwammer
• Release date: May 10, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215926543

Book preview

INTRODUCTION

PARENTING YOUR CHILD

Maintaining good health is far more important and effective than later disease treatment. Good health necessitates effort: regular exercise, a healthy lifestyle, wearing seat belts, not smoking, and abstaining from alcohol and drugs; in other words, doing good things and avoiding bad things.

Furthermore, raising healthy children is far more critical and effective than later correcting bad behavior. It takes time and effort to cultivate the good stuff - loving connections, empathy, and meeting their needs. Unfortunately, most parenting books in the last two generations have focused on correcting misbehavior and resolving problems.

Parenting today is very different from what our parents or grandparents experienced. Some of us may recall growing up in a home where Dad was present, and his word was law. Mothers, let alone children, had little influence in family matters!

Today's parents must recognize that their children are even more interested and curious. That is why we must listen to them, take a step back, and allow them to explore the world and discover things for themselves.

Finally, they will learn to be prepared not only for school but also for life. Positive parenting will undoubtedly make a difference in your children.

Positive parents work hard to make good things. They foster trust and competence, identify and promote strengths and talents, foster loving relationships, and promote fun, joy, and happiness. In a nutshell, positive parents teach, comfort, and play with their children.

Everyone learns and grows when mothers and fathers (and other adults who care for children) address their personal development alongside the development of their children. Caring adults can help to prevent loneliness, fear, and anxiety, as well as antisocial, self-destructive, and violent behavior.

Building a family is similar to building a house. You begin with a vision and a plan. Then you'll lay a solid foundation. You progress step by step. If you skip a step, you must redo your makeup, which is more difficult than doing it right from the start. We can't go back in time when it comes to parenting. We must begin now, where we must do the right thing.

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A PARENT'S GUIDE

TO DIFFICULT TEENS TALKS

Talking to your children about difficult topics is one of the most challenging aspects of parenting. It isn't easy to explain; when the washing machine eats Mr. Teddy Bear. Or how their school bike was stolen. It appears impossible to put into words significant issues, such as violence, racism, drugs, and other critical issues. However, in an age of cell phone notifications, video streaming, and 24-hour news coverage, where even small children are exposed to extremely serious stories, it is critical to meet this challenge head-on. Taking on complex tasks makes your children feel safer, strengthens your bond, and teaches them about the world. They become critical thinkers when you teach them how to gather and interpret information, ask questions, and cross-check sources. It's always heartbreaking to confront problems that the world hasn't been able to solve. However, by instilling in our children knowledge, compassion, and a strong character, we can provide them with all the tools they need to improve things.

When your children learn about something frightening or upsetting — a mass shooting, a suicide on a popular TV show, or graphic porn via an innocent Google search — most parents get that deer in the headlights feeling. However, starting conversations with your child based on age and developmental stage is always a good idea because children absorb information differently as they grow from babies to teenagers. Young children, for example, take everything literally. If you tell them there's a monster under the bed, they'll fly across the room to avoid being bitten on the ankles. If you try this with a teenager, he will tell you to take a step forward. Understanding how children perceive the world at each stage of development allows you to provide information in the most age-appropriate manner. Of course, each child brings their sensibilities, temperament, experience, and other unique characteristics to the table. For example, a discussion about the Holocaust can take a million different turns depending on the child. To determine how far to go, use your best judgment about how your child processes information.

The world has far too many complex subjects. However, most of us would be unwilling to give up our vibrant, information-rich culture. Compromise is a candid yet compassionate discussion that helps us all understand what appears insane.

Based on childhood development guidelines, the following are general guidelines for discussing any difficult topic with children ages 2-10. In addition, are guidelines on explaining the news to children and discussing sexual harassment with young children and adolescents.

2–6 YEARS OLD

Young children lack the life experience required to comprehend some of the elements involved in complex and challenging subjects. They also have a poor grasp of abstract concepts and cause and effect. They concentrate on how things affect them because they and their primary relationships (mom, dad, siblings, grandparents, and even the family dog) are at the center of their world. They are acutely aware of their parent's emotional states and may be concerned that they have offended you. All of this makes it difficult to explain the significant issues. On the other hand, you have better control over their media exposure, and they can usually move on quickly.

KEEP THE NEWS TO A MINIMUM;

Turn off or mute the television and choose age-appropriate media to limit young children's exposure to inappropriate material.

USE WORDS AND GESTURES TO REASSURE;

You can say words like, You're safe, Mom and Dad are unharmed, and your loved ones are safe. Hugs and cuddles are also effective.

ADDRESS YOUR EMOTIONS;

Both yours and theirs; its fine to be scared, sad, or confused. These are natural feelings that we all have.

DISCOVER WHAT THEY ARE AWARE OF;

Your children may not fully comprehend the situation. Before you show them the pictures, ask them what they think happened.

RECOGNIZE YOUR OWN BIASES;

We've all got them. Not fat, homeless woman, pretty little girl, or black boy, but man, woman, girl, and boy. Unless it is relevant to the problem, avoid describing a person's ethnicity, gender identity, weight, financial status, etc.

USE SIMPLE WORDS TO DESCRIBE YOUR EMOTIONS;

Such as crazy, sad, scared, happy, and surprised."

Young children comprehend feelings, but they do not understand mental illness. You can tell when someone is too angry or confused and requires assistance. Idioms like blew a joint and stole the chicken coop should be avoided.

SHOW THAT SOMEONE IS IN CHARGE

You can say, Mom and Dad will make sure that nothing bad happens to our family, and the cops will catch the bad guy.

7–12 YEARS OLD

Because children in this age range can read and write, they are more likely to be exposed to age-inappropriate content, but young children in this age range are still unsure about what is true and what is not. Children can tackle complex topics and understand different perspectives as they gain abstract thinking skills, real-world experience, and the ability to express themselves. Tweens come into contact with violent video games, hardcore pornography, upsetting news such as mass shootings, and speeches as they separate from their parents, enter puberty, and interact with the media more independently. On online hatred, they must be able to discuss issues without feeling ashamed or embarrassed.

WAIT FOR THE RIGHT OPPORTUNITY;

Children at this age are still very likely to come to you if they have heard of something frightening. You can feel them see if they want to talk about something, but if they don't, don't feel obligated to bring up difficult topics until they do.

DISCOVER WHAT THEY ARE AWARE OF;

Inquire with your children about what they have heard or if their classmates are discussing anything. Answer questions simply and directly, but don't go into too much detail (as you might scare them more).

MAKE THE CHAT ROOM SECURE;

You can say, These are difficult topics to discuss, even with adults. Let's just talk about it. I will not be angry, and I want you to feel free to ask me anything."

GIVE SOME CONTEXT AND PERSPECTIVE;

Children must first understand the circumstances surrounding it to comprehend the meaning of a problem fully. For example, you can say this about a mass shooting, The person who committed murder had problems in his brain that confused his thoughts, For racial crimes, say, Some people mistakenly believe that light-skinned people are better than dark-skinned people. They sometimes commit crimes they believe are justified when they lack the necessary information."

RESPOND TO THEIR INTEREST;

If your child encounters adult content online, it may be time to find content that will allow them to learn more about more mature topics appropriate for their age. Some adults watch online pornography, you might say. However, it is not about love or romance, which may give you the wrong impression of sex. If you want to learn more about sex, I can recommend some books. And we can discuss it further if you have any questions. Let's look for news sources that offer written current events for kids," If your child wants to delve deeper into serious topics, you can provide them.

BE AWARE OF YOUR CHILDREN'S EMOTIONS AND TEMPERAMENTS.

You never know what might set off your child. Record yourself talking about how you're feeling, and then ask them how they're feeling; you can say; I get angry when I know someone has been hurt, Or, It saddens me to hear that someone did not receive the proper education or treatment to assist them. How are you currently feeling?

PROMOTE CRITICAL THINKING;

Ask open-ended questions to get kids to think more deeply about serious topics. What did you hear? and What did that make you think? And why do you believe that? Do you think families from other backgrounds would see this the same way we do? you can ask older children. Furthermore, the news media highlights stories to get more people to pay attention. How come this story is getting so much attention?

LOOK FOR THE BRIGHT SIDE;

Although every cloud may not have a silver lining, remain optimistic. For example, you can say; A lot of people acted like heroes at the crime scene; let's find ways to help,

TEENS

At this age, teens read, interact with, and even create their media, which they share through comments, videos, and memes. Without your knowledge, they frequently hear about difficult topics in the news or elsewhere, such as in video game chat rooms or on social media. They are far more interested in what their friends or other web users think of an issue than in your opinion - they frequently scroll to the bottom of a story to read user responses before reading the entire story. They scoff at lectures because they believe they know everything, so encourage them to seek out media that can expand their knowledge and ask questions that make them think about their points.

ENCOURAGE OPEN COMMUNICATION

Teens must understand that they can ask questions, express their opinions, and speak freely without fear of repercussions. We may not agree on everything, but I'd like to hear what you have to say.

Ask open-ended questions and encourage them to back up their ideas. What do you think of police brutality? How do you know? Who do you believe is to blame? and Why do you believe that?

When you don't know something, admit it. When children reach adolescence, it is natural for them to realize that their parents may not have all the answers; you can say, I'm not sure; let us try to learn more.

ENCOURAGE THEM TO THINK ABOUT THE COMPLEXITIES OF DIFFICULT TOPICS;

Social problems, politics, tradition, and other factors contribute to the inability to solve particular problems. You can ask them, What makes difficult problems, such as rape, violence, and crime, so difficult to solve? What key elements should change to solve certain problems, such as poverty? and Should we accept small incremental changes to solve a problem or insist on big changes?

SHARE YOUR BELIEFS;

Tell your children where you stand on issues and why you hold specific values. Explain why you value tolerance and acceptance to your teens, for example, if you want them to respect other people's differences.

DISCUSS THEIR NEWS;

Encourage them to consider how various sources spin on issues and how this influences an audience's opinion of a problem. Social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat frequently feature content from friends, with stories confirming a point of view. How do these stories stack up against the ostensibly objective information broadcast on television? What about millennial-targeted sources like Vice and Vox, which feature reporters digging deep into stories? Does a journalist have to be addicted to heroin to report opiate addiction?

ASK THEM WHAT THEY WOULD DO IF THEY WERE IN AN EXTREMELY DIFFICULT SITUATION;

Teenagers form their own identities and may seek out danger. Consider how they would act if confronted with a terrible reality. This appeals to their sense of adventure and allows them to face ethical quandaries and see themselves making good choices. What would you do if caught up in a political protest that turned violent and saw people being mistreated?

ENCOURAGE THEM TO THINK ABOUT SOLUTIONS;

Teenagers can be cynical as well as idealistic. If something needs to be improved, this generation will do it. Demonstrate your confidence in them by giving them the job. If you were in charge, what problem would you solve first and why, and how would you go about it?

HOW CAN YOU GET YOUR TEENS

INVOLVED IN THE CONVERSATION?

The ability to communicate an