by V. Z. Marcus

Created on: September 24, 2009

Are you a parent who doesn't seem to be bonding with their teen? It's true that during the teenage years your child will begin to pursue things on their own, which might lead to less time that the two of you can spend together. Your teen might develop a schedule that is just as busy as yours, making the bonding experience much more difficult. It's important that you do everything you can to overcome these newly found obstacles and find a way to make bonding with your teen a fun and easy practice.

Fortunately, there are several things that you can do as a parent to bond with your teen, and many of them are much simpler than you might think. They rely on a few key elements including the importance of communication, having an understanding of your child's world, and being able to relate to your teens wants and needs. Here are a few excellent ways that you and your teen can bond together:

*Chat regularly. This might seem obvious, but a surprising number of parents don't realize just how important it is to talk to their teen on a regular basis. When you make a conscious effort to chat with your teen, you form a unique relationship that is open to communication.

*Eat as a family. In today's world it is often difficult to assemble the whole family for a meal, but it's one of the best things you can do to bond with your teen. Eating together means sharing the news and experiences of the day, and continuously learning about the various things that make up your teens life.

*Have family meetings. Take an evening out of the week or month and set it aside for a meeting with you and your teen. This meeting can involve a fun activity like a movie or board game, but should include an extended discussion about what's going on in your teens life. Talk about things like school, work, and perhaps something that is going on in the world that both you and your teen can relate to.

*Take short trips. Take your teen to their favorite restaurant or place to hang out. It doesn't have to be expensive and you can do this every week or once a month, whatever it takes to get your teen out of the house doing something fun that both you and them can enjoy.

*Take long trips. One the greatest memories a teenager will take with them is the experience of a good family vacation. Depending on your economic situation, a far flung, extravagant trip might not be in your budget. Remember, it's not so important where you go, but the fact that you are together as a family. Take them to a nearby state park and go camping, or travel to a local landmark.

*Celebrate. Celebrating holidays can be a wonderful opportunity to make memories and bond with your teen. You don't have to go all out to have a good time. Most often the simplest holiday celebrations are the ones that you and your teen will remember the most. Be optimistic about it and keep in mind that these are the moments that matter.

*Be creative. Sometimes the bonding experience comes from the more unique and interesting experiences in our lives. Be creative and spontaneous about it; surprise your teen with a special gift, make a memorable meal or go out together to watch the stars at night. Break the routine and have fun with it.

Remember, bonding with your teen shouldn't seem like a chore, and the more you do it, the more you will realize just how important it is for the development of your teen and their future. Get out there and start bonding and be proud of your role as a parent!

Learn more about this author, V. Z. Marcus.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.