Trust is an important component of any healthy relationship, and it is easily developed through communication. But, without being able to express yourself openly first, teaching the same to your child might be a challenge. Good communication with teenagers means being able to prevent unwanted or perhaps even dangerous situations. It also provides your teenager a sense of security and trust in the family. Once you learn to communicate in the early stages, rest assured, you will be reaping its benefits in the near future.

At the age of 8-12 children start wanting independence more than ever before. Granting them freedom might feel scary, but you do not have to go all in straight away. Perhaps instead of letting your child run wild, try gradually introducing them to the notion of independence. It could be as simple as leaving them alone at home for short periods of time, or perhaps assigning tasks or chores they can do themselves. Thankfully, living in the 21st century has its benefits. There are apps that help your child become more self-sufficient by the time they reach adolescence. Levelty is a great example. The app features two interfaces: for parents and for children. You set the tasks that your tween completes for rewards. Making this part of your everyday routine will prepare your youngster for the responsibilities that will come with teenagehood.

Teenagers go through many emotional and physical changes that can affect their social and family life. Puberty causes a series of natural changes not only to the hormone system, but also to the body itself, which will affect their mood. While it is completely normal, taking the time to understand this will make a world of a difference in your relationship. A series of open and casual chats before the changes begin will help your child feel at ease when their body begins to change.

Boundaries are necessary for all children, even those on the verge of adulthood, but teenagers are notorious for pushing them to their breaking point. The key to creating rules that your child will follow is to engage them in the process. Your youngster will be less likely to protest the ground rules if they have taken part in creating them. On top of that, being sensible about the rules will make your tween less likely to try and break them. Entering the teenage years is no easy task. It will pose its challenges on you and your child, change their behavior and maybe even put a strain on your relationship. But being open, encouraging independence, learning about the changes and setting some rules will help you get through this exciting stage of your child’s life.