Managing Conflicts with Your Teen If tensions are running high in your household more often than not, or you have noticed changes in your teen’s behavior, it may be time to seek the guidance of a licensed mental health provider. Contact your Employee Assistance Program (EAP) today to connect with a counselor in your area. The contents of this article and referenced websites, such as text, graphics, images, and other material contained on the site are for informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Reliance on any information provided by these websites is solely at your own risk. Kepro is not responsible for the contents of any “offsite” web page referenced from this server. ©Kepro. All rights reserved. Mather, Becky. “Breaking the Cycle: 8 Strategies for Dealing with Conflict with Your Young Teen”. Parenthetical: Resources for Parenting Tweens and Teen. University of Wisconsin-Madison. Accessed January 23, 2023, from https://parenthetical.wisc.edu/2017/11/06/breakingthecycle-8-strategies-for-dealing-with-conflict-with-your-young-teen/ Stay calm as your buttons are pushed to avoid escalating things further. Try to sort out the real issue. What's really at the root of the argument and is it really important? Establish reasonable consequences. Decide what you will and will not tolerate and be consistent. Avoid a punishment if you are not going to be able to follow through. Try not to worry about what others think of you. Teens may make a scene out in public as they practice their skills. Avoid compromising your parenting approach out of embarrassment. Establish understanding with your partner or other parent before approaching the teen so you can present a united front. If an argument has gone on for a while, it's okay to disengage and take a break. Let natural consequences happen if they are reasonable and safe. Remember that conflict serves a purpose. Let teens practice while establishing rules and boundaries and being supportive. Life with teens often feel rife with turmoil, leaving parents questioning where they’re going wrong. Rest assured that conflict serves an important role in preparing teens for sound future decision making. They are trying out their skills of logic and reasoning on you. The path to developing these skills comes with testing out different approaches, often using flawed logic and irrational thinking, arguments, and assertions of independence. What can you do to help ease this transition time? Anytime, any day, you have free, confidential access to professional consultants and online resources to help you be your best. To access these services, call or log on to get started. Your Employee Assistance Program
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