Enjoying the Holiday Season with your Teen
The holidays are supposed to be a time of great joy and celebration. However, we all know that that is not always the case when we have teens! We want you and your loves ones to have the best holidays possible, so we offer these recommendations:
Get their input. Don’t assume you know how your teen wants to spend the holidays. Ask for their ideas about how to spend time together and what is important to them.
Fight boredom. Time off from school with nothing to do increases the chance that your teen will be moody and/or engage in risky behaviors due to having too much free time on their hands. While your teen does need some downtime, make structured holiday plans, such as having your teen bake, wrap presents, invite friends over, participate in family outings, or complete paid chores to keep them busy.
Be positive. With so much time together, it’s easy to notice all of your teen’s problems and shortcomings. Instead, make a conscious effort to look for desirable behavior, and then, praise your teen. When you choose to look for the positive, everything feels a little bit brighter, and it sets a positive tone that your children can feel and will follow.
Check out our previous blogs for more ideas:
20 Teen Activities for the Holiday Break
Creating Family Harmony During the Holidays
Positive Holiday Compromises with Your Teen
Enjoying the Holidays and Creating Traditions With Your Teen
Surviving the School Holiday Break
Holidays Can Increase Mental Health or Substance Abuse Issues
Yes, Teens Get Stressed During the Holidays, Too
An Affordable Holiday: Creative Ways to Celebrate with Teens