If you are the parent of a teen, there’s good news. A new study by research firm, The Zandl Group, shows a narrowing generation gap. Each year the group surveys teens in order to track trends. The latest survey shows that many teens actually enjoy hanging out at home with their parents.
When surveyed 10 years ago, less than a quarter of teens listed “home” as their favorite place to be. When surveyed in 2006, nearly half of the teens listed “home”.
“Family” was listed by one in four teens as being the most important thing about their day-to-day life, in 2006. 10 years ago, it was just one in four teens who felt this way.
One reason cited by experts for these changes is teens’ new attitude to parents’ changing priorities. Parents are becoming more attentive to their teens and they in turn are appreciating this attention. And they are showing this appreciation by doing well in school, obeying their parents’ rules, etc. They are more likely to confide in their parents and to value the time spent with together with their parents.
The researchers noted that parents often think that their teenagers don’t want them in their lives but that’s not true. What teens want are parents who are involved but not controlling.
Parents today are closer to their teens because of their parenting style, a style that is not as strict as a generation ago. Parents welcome their teens input but retain the right to make the final the decision on matters.
Another reason cited for the closing generation gap is shared interest in music, movies and TV shows. Some teens simply have less to rebel against.
The secret to having a good relationship with your teen is to find a balance between being too strict and too permissive. Instead of trying to enforce stringent rules, focus on issues like safety, character building and doing your best in school.
See also:
14 Ways To Show Your Kids You Love Them
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Kid Fitness :The Burden of Being A Teenager