| Tired of your teen being out of your home more than | | | | love to hear their name (don't we all?) and the parent |
| in it? You can make your home a magnet for your | | | | who can remember a teen's name when they walk in |
| teenager and her friends by keeping in mind a few | | | | the door gains high marks for being friendly. |
| simple teen-friendly ideas. | | | | Obviously, getting to know the parents of your teen's |
| -- Fun is #1. | | | | friends is a good thing, too, but not always possible. |
| Parenting teenagers effectively means getting inside | | | | Let's face it. Some teens your teenager will befriend |
| their heads a bit and the first piece of information you'll | | | | will have family situations very different from your |
| find there is not a surprise. Teens are looking for fun. | | | | own. Use this fact to help your teenager see what |
| Ideally, they should find it at home first. Why? Because | | | | works and what doesn't in families, what matters and |
| that gives you the opportunity as the parent to | | | | what genuinely doesn't matter. This is another way to |
| oversee the environment they're spending time in and | | | | teach your values to your teen. |
| get a first-hand look at who they're spending their time | | | | As best as is reasonable, be an accepting place for |
| with. | | | | your teenager's friends. Who knows? Your home may |
| You'll be relieved to know you don't need to provide | | | | be the only happy haven some of those teens have |
| the latest entertainment equipment to have a | | | | ever seen. |
| teen-friendly environment, but you will definitely need to | | | | -- Don't forget the food! |
| provide things for them to do. Nothing kills the | | | | Teens know how to eat. Their metabolism is on |
| fun-factor faster than "I'm bored". | | | | over-drive and they need regular foraging to keep that |
| So talk to your teen about what he and his friends | | | | energy level sustained. You can help a lot by keeping |
| enjoy doing and consider how that information fits into | | | | interesting and convenient foods around but pay close |
| your personal home and lifestyle. If you're a | | | | attention to nutrition. |
| sports-minded family, you probably already have a | | | | Teens need significant nutrition and by most accounts |
| good deal of sports equipment and a yard to use it in. | | | | are not getting it. Dips can be low-fat and yummy, and |
| If your family enjoys movies, host a movie-night for | | | | pizza can be packed with nutrients without overloading |
| your teen's friends (this means YOU can pick the | | | | on the fat and salt. Remember when your teen was a |
| appropriate movies and if any movie is in the least | | | | baby? You watched everything that went into his |
| way questionable, forget it, no matter what your teen | | | | mouth. Well, now that you are parenting a teenager, |
| says). | | | | take back that control and teach excellent nutrition to |
| To make this idea even more effective, realize that | | | | your teen. |
| one of the best things you can do as you are | | | | -- Be there, but with balance. |
| parenting teenagers is to develop an environment of | | | | Parenting teenagers means walking a fine line |
| fun in your everyday homelike. We have employed | | | | between privacy and supervision. This is easily seen |
| the 'work hard, play hard' philosophy with our teens to | | | | when your teen is entertaining her friends at your |
| encourage an attitude of personal excellence. Waiting | | | | home. Don't make it your goal to 'disappear' for the |
| for dinner to cook? Play a hand of cards at the | | | | evening. Get to know your teen's friends, inquire about |
| kitchen table. Need to spend Saturday morning doing | | | | their families and let them know you're glad they are in |
| yard work together? Toss a ball around during | | | | your home. |
| well-deserved breaks. | | | | But don't hover. Unless the plan was to make it a teen |
| Board games are great for families, too. Charades | | | | adult time from the beginning, whip them in a game of |
| keep everyone laughing and involved. Family sports | | | | ping-pong then bow out for a while. Have them help |
| teach fitness, teamwork and a positive attitude, | | | | set up the taco bar then disappear to do a little work |
| whether one is winning or losing. | | | | of your own. Pop back into the teen room from time |
| Bottom line? Play games with your family, make fun a | | | | to time just to say "hi" and share a laugh. |
| meaningful part of your parenting game plan and your | | | | You get the idea. |
| teenager's friends will find it hard to resist hanging out | | | | Parenting teenagers can be a wild and exciting ride. |
| at your home. | | | | What's important is that, as the parent, you take |
| -- Friendly works. | | | | appropriate control. Making your home a place where |
| You can talk to your teenager's friends. Go ahead. Try | | | | your teen and her friends will enjoy spending time can |
| it. It may be uncomfortable at first, but you'll both get | | | | go a long ways towards staying in the parental driving |
| better at it. Pay attention to names, too. Teenagers | | | | seat. |