Your Teen Craves Your Approval
As a parent you do a lot for your teen. You pay the bills, put food on the table and you can give or take the car keys, but beyond these obvious parental duties, you hold the power of a teen who wants your approval.
Your teen actually wants you to like them and be proud of them. It gives them a sense of confidence, self-mastery and knowledge they can accomplish a task to both your and their standards. Your approval is a sign to your teen they are on the right track.
Never underestimate how much your teen is struggling to make a good decision. Their poor decisions are frustrating and disappointing to them too. It may not seem like it because it’s hard for them to admit when they’re wrong, but they understand they have messed up so reminding them about previous poor decision has little benefit if any.
The teen brain is developing and making new connections that allow them to think more like an adult. This means assuming responsibility and thinking about the consequences of their decisions versus the impetuous actions of the teen years (e.g. outbursts, mood swings and even violence). Until their brain has completed development (about the age of 24 years), be open to the mistakes they make these are lessons that teach them to make better choices in the future.
When you comment on your teen’s good behavior, you teach them what you like. They enjoy the praise and the ability to meet your approval and this encourages more good behavior. Let your teen know when they are doing something right, they are on the right track and they have your approval.
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